Awesome / The Great British Bake Off

• While he ultimately didn't win the title, Richard Burr of series 5 won the title of Star Baker five times over the course of 10 episodes. That's not something to sneeze at!
• Contestant Paul Jagger of series 6 crafted an intricate and detailed lion out of many types of bread, which had Paul Hollywood declare it the most impressive-looking bread creation he had ever seen. The judges decided that he couldn't be awarded Star Baker due to coming in last for the technical challenge that week, but were so impressed by the lion that they awarded him a unique Special Commendation for his achievement.
• Nadiya Hussain, also of series 6, crafted a cheesecake tower with a floating soda can topper supported entirely by a straw and meringue. It was impressive enough for Paul, who was speechless for a moment before calling it ingenious.
  • She got another one when, after scoring in the bottom for all technical challenges so far, she got first place twice in a row.
  • And then, finally, there's her Confession Cam after she wins:
  Nadiya: I'm never gonna say I don't think I can. I can and I will.
  • Nadiya is far from the first baker in the tent to have some strange or peculiar trick that Paul and Mary haven't heard of, but that is usually because it's a terrible idea. Mary and Paul had never encountered marshmallow-based fondant before her final showstopper, and it blew them away.
• In season 5, 17-year-old Martha, 14 years younger than the next youngest baker, won two technical challenges in a row, despite many of the other bakers having been baking longer than she had been alive. She also pulled off an impressive signature bake on continental cake week, despite Paul being openly skeptical of her method and, by her own admission, having never actually baked or even eaten the cake she was making.
• A minor one in season 6. After being fairly timid for the whole season, Nadiya talks back to Paul during the final.
  Paul: Happy, Nadiya?
  Nadiya: Yeah. Yeah.
  (Beat)
  Nadiya: Happy, Paul?
  (Beat, both start laughing)
• In season 8, nineteen-year-old fan favourite Liam won Star Baker in the infamously difficult Pastry Week.
• Rahul of series 9, who despite his anxiety turned in amazing bakes week after week and took the win home.
• Jurgen of series 12, who won Star Baker for both of the first two episodes with little trouble.
• Giuseppe's bread week signature focaccia, earned a handshake from Paul (a master bread baker) and a request for the recipe. He then followed it up by coming first in the technical, where most of the other bakers did poorly.
• Crystelle of series 12 received a Hollywood Handshake (a rare achievement in the showstopper round) for baking a perfect terrine for the Pastry Week showstopper. Did we mention it had three kinds of curry? Paul called it "brave" and "perfection". Naturally, it also helped to earn her Star Baker.
• Even though it isn't nearly what they asked for, Syabira misunderstanding an instruction and making literal feathers out of white chocolate is quite impressive. Paul even says how well made they are!