When Pamela Buchanan found out she was going on The Great Australian Bake Off 2026, she just wanted to survive Cake Week.
But she went beyond that and went on to win the competition, and she exclusively tells New Idea she’s “still pinching myself” after coming out on top.
“It was just such a beautiful experience, the whole journey being in the meeting the other bakers, living that for so many weeks,” the mother of two explains.
“It’s just an incredible honour, and it’s something I will never forget.”
In the finale, which aired on October 13, she went up against Matt and Branden.
She came first in the Technical Bake, and her ambitious Show Stopper, which was covered in over 260 handmade bonbons, was a standout.
“That was a huge task, but it was a finale, and my family were going to be there, and I thought this is the moment. If I’m going to do something huge, it has to be now,” she explains to us about her final bake.
“So, achieving and going on to win it, it was something that I’m never going to forget.”
Being a part of the experience was a dream come true for the longtime fan and self-taught baker.
While winning the competition certainly takes the cake, she says meeting other passionate bakers was also a highlight.
Not only that, but also having the chance to challenge herself each week. With that, she tells New Idea that as each episode has aired, she has been recreating everything she’s made on the show!
And yes, that includes her Show Stopper.
“It’s just magical to show everyone what I actually did there,” she continues.
Armed with confidence from her time on the show and winning the ultimate baker’s kitchen from Smeg, Pamela is now turning her eyes to her new baking business, Bake and Sway.
Before the show, she made things for her family and friends. Now, she’s sharing her tricks and passion with her online community.
“I think the Bake Off just gave me that extra push of confidence, like, yes, I love the fast-paced environment. I love challenges, I love doing this, so you only live once. I’m going to give this a go,” she explains.
Along with establishing her website and social media pages, she’s keen to teach some classes.
She also tells New Idea that she will be at the Good Food & Wine Show in Sydney and Melbourne later this year.
