Paul Hollywood defends Prue Leith over Great British Bake Off mishap

'Everyone's entitled to a mistake'

Noel Fielding, Sandi Toksvig, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith (LOVE PRODUCTIONS )

This year’s Great British Bake Off finale was an emotional rollercoaster that saw Sophie Faldo crowned the first winner since the show moved to Channel 4.

While a resoundingly well-deserved victory, some viewers were already aware of who would win the competition.

Just hours before airing, judge Prue Leith accidentally Tweeted the winner's name. She wrote: “No one told me judging a #gbbo final would be so emotional. I wanted them all to win. Bravo Sophie.”

Leith quickly apologised, saying moments after the incident that she was “in too much of a state to talk about it,” later Tweeting: “I am so sorry to the fans of the show for my mistake this morning, I am in a different time zone and mortified by my error.”

Speaking to The Sun, fellow judge Paul Hollywood defended Leith, saying: "Everyone's entitled to a mistake. I’m sure she won't do it again.”

The baker also spoke about the backlash caused by staying with the show following the move to Channel 4. "I've been put through the mill for staying with a TV programme,” he said.

“Ultimately I never left the BBC. I never actually left anything. I stayed with something. It is really ridiculous the level that it all got to, but it just makes me laugh now.”

Hollywood will next appear on the Channel 4 show Paul Hollywood: A Baker’s Life, starting Monday, 27 November.