CBBC Office: Q&A with 'Junior Bake Off' Champion Freya

17th November 2011

Just minutes after she was declared 'Junior Bake Off' Champion 2011, we caught up with the winner Freya to ask her some of your questions from the Messageboards. Find out how she feels about winning Junior Bake Off, which challenge she found the hardest and what she really thinks about the show's judges, Mary and Paul...

Freya: Hello everyone! I'm Freya and I'm going to answer some of your questions that you've posted. Thank you for watching!

Hi! I'm Leticia and this is my question : When you get something wrong and Mary or Paul give you some advice, do you follow it to make your cooking even better? - RubyBrightAntelope

Freya: Hi Leticia, I followed Mary and Paul if it matched my instincts, but if I knew I could do it better I would!

Well done!!!!!! I just have one question: Which judge is the nicest, Mary or Paul? Sorry, a bit random! From Hannah - TopazMuffinPegasus

Freya: Hi Hannah, I really liked Mary and Paul because they gave me loads of wonderful tips and they're really kind to everyone!

Hi Freya, well done. Your cupcake butterfly looked cool. My question is: What age were you when you started baking and who inspires you? - DiamondRainbowCroc

Freya: Thank you for posting! I've been baking since I can remember. I used to make flapjacks and lick the bowl afterwards with my Dad! Mary and Paul inspire me to do lots more baking because they got really high in quite a hard industry.

How do you pipe icing? It always goes everywhere when I do it! - PurpleDancingTiger

Freya: Pipe it on the worktop to practise and always hold the top of the piping bag and squeeze down.

Hi !!! I have some questions for the Bake Off Winner: What was your favourite challenge? What was the hardest challenge? - WhiteGrinningGecko

Freya: My hardest challenge was making the fruit tarts with the creme patisserie because I've never made it before. And my favourite was making seaside tarts because they went down really well with the judges!

Hey!! My question is now that you have won Junior Bake Off will you do anything like it again in the future like become a famous chef or go on more baking challenges?? Funny Photo xxx - SalmonCalmCricket

Freya: I'm quite confident now I've done Junior Bake Off. I would like to become a famous baker and open my own bakery.

Who was your hardest person to beat? Well done for winning, you must be very happy. You are probaly one of the best children's bakers in the UK! Emily - TopazNimbleTulip

Freya: Hi Emily, thank you for posting! I think the hardest person to beat was either Kieran or Kai because Kai did really well in his first and second challenges and Kieran because he got the final really well. And Saffron was awesome too!

How nervous were when you found out you were baking for Michel Roux Junior? I would like to get into baking, do you have any tips? From Samantha - AmethystCheesyLizard

Freya: Hi Samantha! It was really nerve-wracking finding out I was baking for Michel Roux Junior because I knew he was one of the top chefs in the country and I really wanted to impress him. And my top tip for a beginner baker is make sure you measure out your ingredients carefully and don't give up because practise makes perfect!

Hiya, here is my question: What do you think was your best bake? - LemonSpringyLemon

Freya: I think my best bake was when I made my seaside tarts because Paul Hollywood said they were ten out of ten and I was an inspiration!

Hi! My question is: If you could bake for anybody, who would you bake for and why? Also, what would you bake for them? Thanks! Keep on dreaming - ScarletChocolatePegasus

Freya: I would bake for Blue Peter presenters because I'd like to see the sets and I'd bake their favourite thing to eat.

Congratulations Freya! My question is: What do you enjoy most about cooking? Thanks! From GingerRappingHamster - GingerRappingHamster

Freya: Thank you for posting! I like baking because it's really fun and you get messy. Also you can do it with your friends. You can make your bakes look really pretty!

Hello Freya! Congratulations on winning Junior Bake Of 2011! Here is my question: What do you think you are going to do with your cooking skills now that you have won the competition? Thanks xxxRachelxxx - VioletShinyHorse

Freya: Hi Rachel, I'm going to do a day baking at my uncle's cafe in Devon and people can come along and try some.

Hey, I just wanted to know is it scary facing the judges? I am thinking of entering the next one but I am really scared of being on TV! - CreamRollingZebrafish

Freya: It is quite scary, but if you just overcome your fears you'll be really glad you've done it. It's really, really cool!

Has winning Junior Bake Off helped build your baking cofindence and in the future will you enter more competitions? Matt P.S.-I was hoping you would win!!! - BlueVioletReadingChipmunk

Freya: Thank you for posting! Winning the Junior Bake Off has really, really boosted my confidence in baking. I might enter more competitions in the future. Also, thank for wanting me to win!

Thank you all for posting your messages! I really appreciate your support. I'm sorry I couldn't answer all of your questions, but I really enjoyed reading them! My message to all you bakers out there is even if it goes wrong, carry on and it will turn out perfect! Freya.

A big thanks to all our Boardies who posted questions! Don't forget to keep an eye on the CBBC Messageboards for details of our next exciting interview...