A Chafford Hundred chef has been crowned the winner of BBC2’s Bake Off: Crème de la Crème after an epic eight week pastry challenge.

The final show, which was aired last Tuesday evening, saw Samantha Rain, along with her winning teammates Mark Tilling from Winchester and Helen Vass from Glasgow, scoop the pastry crown out of the clutches of rivals.

To win the team had to get through a gruelling and intense final, including creating a pastry extravaganza for 100 guests.

The winning concoction, a giant chocolate centrepiece amidst a banquet of desserts for 100 people, was named: ‘Life & Times of a Pastry Chef.’

The young Chafford chocolatier was judged by some of the best pastry chefs in the world, including Benoit Blin, from Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Cherish Finden of The Langham, London and Claire Clarke MBE.

Samantha, who studied catering at Thurrock College, said she was “over the moon” to scoop the coveted title.

She said: “I’m incredibly happy, I can’t believe it’s happened to me - I feel like I’m dreaming! It was really hard, with a lot of pressure, and I’ve never been on TV before. Everyone on the show had so many skills – I didn’t have a clue we were going to win!”

The young chocolatier, 25, who won the Junior Chocolate Masters Championship in 2014, said she now has her sights set on the World Chocolate Masters Championship in 2020.

She said: “We worked really really hard for the final, and now I want to be prepared for the next challenge. I don’t do things by halves.”

Ex-tutor Patrick Mayo, Chef Lecturer at South Essex College said his former student had “proved him wrong.”

He said: “I thought the kitchen environment would be too tough for her but she’s a tough cookie and she’s done really well for herself. I’m very proud of her. It makes you feel proud when you see them go on their way and do well.”

Mum Linda Rain, of St Marcos Drive in Chafford Hundred, said she was “incredibly proud”.

She recalled her 14-year-old daughter returning from work experience in Procter and Gamble kitchens, with a look of determination.

Mrs Rain said: “She just said: “Mum, I want to be a pastry chef – and I couldn’t quite believe she was so sure! She’d never shown that much interest in cooking before.”

“I had confidence in her to win Crème de la Crème though – she’s very passionate and knowledgeable about what she does.”

Samantha, who currently lives and works in Hailsham, Sussex for Paul Wayne Chocolates, said she now wants to inspire others who might be put off to give a career in cheffery a go.

She said: “What I want is to teach others how to be a chef, like I was taught by so many people. There’s not too many chefs anymore and I want people to know – you can do it, and you can do it really well!”