If you were scrolling through Twitter—or X, whatever we're calling it now—back in late 2018, you probably remember the absolute meltdown people had over a shattered glass jar. That was The Great British Bake Off Season 9 in a nutshell. It was messy. It was heartwarming. It was, at times, deeply confusing for the viewers at home who couldn't quite figure out why Paul Hollywood was suddenly handing out handshakes like he was running for office.
Most of us know it as the year of Rahul. But looking back from 2026, Series 9 (as the Brits call it) stands out as a weirdly pivotal moment for the show. It was the second year after the big move from the BBC to Channel 4. The "new" vibe had finally settled in, but the drama? That was just getting started.
The Rahul Mandal Phenomenon
Let’s be honest: Rahul was a mood.
A research scientist from Rotherham with the posture of a question mark and the nerves of a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He was the most unlikely reality TV star ever. From the jump, he was essentially a baking prodigy who didn't believe he belonged in the room. He'd produce these hyper-detailed, scientific masterpieces and then look at the judges like he’d just accidentally burned down the tent.
He won Star Baker in weeks two and three. He got the first-ever "Hollywood Handshake" for a showstopper. But the finale was where things got truly wild.
The Jar Heard 'Round the World
During the final showstopper—an ambitious "Edible Landscape"—the heat in the tent caused a glass storage jar on Rahul's station to literally explode. Shards everywhere. It was a disaster. Because of the safety risk, he had to toss everything and start over.
The producers gave him an extra 15 minutes to compensate for the cleanup. Some fans thought it was fair; others... well, they had thoughts. Especially when he ended up winning the whole thing over Kim-Joy and Ruby Bhogal.
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Why People Still Argue About the Winner
If you talk to any die-hard Bake Off fan, they probably have a "Justice for Kim-Joy" shirt hidden in their closet. Kim-Joy was the queen of whimsy. Her bakes weren't just food; they were little dioramas with space turtles and woodland creatures.
Ruby, on the other hand, was the ultimate "clutch" performer. She started slow but became a powerhouse toward the end, bagging Star Baker in the final two weeks leading up to the finale.
So why did Rahul win?
- Flavor Profile: Paul and Prue kept hammering on about his "mastery of spice."
- Technical Skill: Even when his bakes looked a bit "rough," the engineering was usually sound.
- The Narrative: People love a shy underdog who finds his voice.
Honestly, the judging felt tighter this season than almost any other. There wasn't a clear runaway winner until the very last second.
The Standout Contestants We Can't Forget
Season 9 wasn't just the "Rahul and Kim-Joy Show." The cast was actually one of the more eclectic ones we’ve seen.
Manon Lagrève was the early favorite. She brought that French chic to every bake until she ran into the buzzsaw of "Danish Week." Then you had Terry, the retired air steward with the incredible mustache and the Victorian-era baking sensibilities. His absence in Week 4 due to illness was the reason nobody went home that week—a move that led to a brutal double elimination in Week 5 (RIP Karen and Terry).
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And who could forget Jon, the blood courier from Wales who wore Hawaiian shirts every week? He was basically the tent’s mascot. When he got sent home, it felt like the heart of the season was ripped out, even if his pastry work wasn't always top-tier.
The "Firsts" That Changed the Show
This season broke a lot of traditional "rules."
- Biscuit Week First: For the first time in history, the show didn't start with Cake Week. It started with biscuits.
- Vegan Week: This was the first time the show dedicated an entire episode to vegan baking. It was chaotic. Watching the bakers try to make meringues out of chickpea water (aquafaba) was pure comedy.
- The Outdoor Technical: In the finale, the bakers had to leave the tent to cook pitta breads over an open fire. It was a total curveball that most of them hated.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 9
There’s this lingering myth that Rahul was "favored" by production. If you actually re-watch the episodes, the guy was struggling. Hard. He was consistently in the bottom for several weeks toward the end.
The reality? He just happened to peak at the right moments and had a baseline of flavor that the judges couldn't ignore. Kim-Joy was more consistent, sure. Ruby had more momentum. But Rahul’s "Rock Garden" showstopper in the finale—despite the glass explosion—was technically more difficult than what the others put up.
Life After the Tent
So, where are they now?
Rahul Mandal is still a research scientist, which is kind of awesome. He didn't just quit his day job to become a full-time influencer. He did, however, write a book called Showstopping Cakes and is a regular on the festival circuit. He even got married in 2022!
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Kim-Joy turned her whimsy into a literal empire. She has written multiple cookbooks (like Baking with Kim-Joy) and even has her own card game. She’s probably the most successful non-winner in the show’s history.
Ruby Bhogal has become a fixture in food media. You’ve probably seen her on GQ or doing segments for This Morning. She’s leaned heavily into the lifestyle and fashion side of things.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you're going back to binge The Great British Bake Off Season 9, keep an eye out for these specific details:
- The "Handshake" Count: See if you agree with Paul’s frequency. This was the year people started saying the handshake was losing its value.
- The Background Drama: Watch the heat in the tent during the finale. You can see the bakers literally melting alongside their chocolate.
- The Evolution of Prue Leith: This was her second year, and you can see her finally getting comfortable enough to disagree with Paul more often.
Rewatching this season is a reminder of why we love the show. It’s not just about the cakes. It’s about the people who are terrified of the cakes.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to bake like the Season 9 crew, start by mastering the Meringue Roulade from Dessert Week. It's the perfect balance of technical difficulty and "wow" factor without needing a chemistry degree. Just make sure you don't break any glass jars in the process.