A young baker from Theale Green School has wowed the judges and won the hearts of the nation with his infectious personality as he just missed out on the crown in the final of Junior Bake Off.

Twelve-year-old Deji Adeyemi—was ‘amazed’ to get through to the final, which aired in January, but says he knew he hadn’t won when his three-tier cake (chocolate, lemon and blueberry and vanilla confetti) took a tumble!

“I thought I was going to win but then my cake collapsed,” he said. “It took three hours to make it – I was quite nervous but then I calmed myself by singing songs to myself.”

Despite his mishap Deji is delighted with his performance – especially his showstopper, the biscuit mobile. He had practised at home, and when the day arrived, he was ready to impress. “It went well,” he remembers. “Rav (one of the presenters) said she would buy a packet of my spiced biscuits.”

Deji’s love for baking started early on, and he has been a fan of the Junior Bake Off for years. “I really liked baking and was a big fan of the show,” he said. “I asked my mum if I could apply for a few years, and when I was 12, I said, ‘This is my last year that I can apply,’ so she said yes.” Deji filled out the application form, submitted pictures of his bakes, and much to his surprise, his mum received a call saying he had beat tens of thousands of other applicants and made it to the next round!

The excitement of being selected: “Was a nice feeling because it meant I was quite good at something,” said Deji. The actual experience on set was filled with moments of nervousness and excitement, particularly meeting new people like presenters Harry Hill, Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill.

Home baked

Back home, Deji can often be found in kitchen, experimenting with new recipes. His signature bake is red velvet cake, and he loves to try new twists on classic recipes. “I experiment a lot,” Deji says. “I’ll copy recipes and then try to make my own versions. I’ve been helping my parents in the kitchen since I was five, and that’s where it all started.”

His competitive spirit extends beyond the Junior Bake Off tent—he’s always up for a friendly family bake-off. “My brother makes brownies and thinks he’s better than me,” he laughs.

His family are justifiably bursting with pride: “We are all so proud of his achievements especially as he was so close to winning and he was the only Triple Star Baker of the season,” said mum Tosin.

The impact of Junior Bake Off

Competing on Junior Bake Off was a life-changing experience for Deji. He not only learned new baking techniques but also gained confidence in his abilities. “The judges’ comments really helped me learn not to do too much,” he says. “They gave me tips and feedback to apply to my bakes.”

For Deji, the best part of baking is sharing his creations with others. “Making for people makes me feel like a nice person,” he said. “A few years ago, I made food for homeless people at Christmas, and they were really happy.” This generosity is part of what makes Deji’s baking so special: it’s not just about the food, but about the joy and connection that it brings.

Culinary college

Looking ahead, Deji is determined to pursue his passion for baking professionally. “I’d like to go to culinary college in France after my A Levels, and  I’d love to bake professionally one day.”

But for now, Deji is enjoying his new role as a Junior Bake Off celebrity. “It’s a bit weird – my friends have been watching and they say I’m a celebrity now.”

Advice for aspiring bakers

Deji’s advice for anyone hoping to follow in his footsteps is simple: “Chase your dreams. Don’t let anyone stop you.” He encourages budding bakers to be fearless in the kitchen, experiment with different flavours, and always be open to learning.

*pictures courtesy of Channel 4