Great British Bake Off winner Matty Edgell has announced that he and his wife, Lara, have welcomed their first child.
Less than 24 hours before Christmas Day, the baker took to Instagram to share the heartwarming news and confirm the name they'd chosen for their newborn daughter.
"A picture that felt a million miles away this time last year," Mr Edgell wrote in the caption of his post on Instagram.
Alongside a snap of him leaving the hospital with her baby daughter in her car seat, Mr Edgell penned further: "Welcome to the world our beautiful little Lila.
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Matty Edgell on the Great British Bake Off
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"Both Mum and baby doing amazing. In awe of how well Lara done throughout the pregnancy and she’s already the best Mum to our little girl.
"We didn’t have to wait long for our first Christmas," he added with a laughing emoji before signing off: "Merry Christmas everyone." (sic)
Inevitably, it didn't take long for fans and former Bake Off castmates to flood the post with their congratulatory messages.
Among the former Bake Off stars to show their support was Dan Hunter, who replied: "Beautiful Christmas present!! Huge congratulations to you both!
"Hope everyone is doing well, you need a new stocking now for tonight! Best wishes to you all," Mr Hunter added.
Meanwhile, Rahul Mandal weighed in: "Aww, congratulations. Seems Lila and Deveshi have very close birthdays."
Cristy Sharp echoed: "Congratulations to you both! Hope you’re enjoying every minute of the baby bliss."
And Steph Blackwell concurred: "Oh my gosh- gorgeous! Huge congratulations to both of you! Have a wonderful Christmas!"
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Matty Edgell has welcomed his first child
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Fellow baker Keith Barron was also among the well-wishers. He wrote: "Congratulations to you both mate. Have a wonderful Christmas with Lila." (sic)
Mr Edgell, who triumphed in the 2023 series, first revealed the pregnancy on Instagram in the summer with a touching photograph featuring a baby grow emblazoned with "born in 2025".
Alongside the garment sat an ultrasound image and a small blanket bearing the words "Little WHU fan" – a nod to Mr Edgell's devotion to West Ham United.
"We can't wait to meet you," the baker wrote in his caption, adding a white heart emoji.
'I considered myself the underdog through out!'
— GB News (@GBNEWS) October 12, 2024
Great British Bake Off Winner 2023, Matty Edgell, reveals what it is like to win the competition. pic.twitter.com/hmROfMu7z0
Mr Edgell's path to fatherhood follows a whirlwind few years since his Bake Off triumph.
The former PE teacher claimed victory in series 14, seeing off competition Mr Hunter and Josh Smalley in the final.
Just days after the finale aired in November 2023, he revealed he had proposed to Lara during a romantic trip to Sorrento, Italy, describing it as one of the "happiest moments of his life."
The couple exchanged vows in May 2024, with Mr Edgell posting: "Signed, sealed and delivered, she can't turn back now! We had the best time celebrating our special day with the people we love the most… P.S. How stunning does my wife look?"
Matty Edgell and his fellow Bake Off stars
|GETTY
Mr Edgell has since left his teaching career in Cambridgeshire to pursue baking professionally, a decision he credits to the opportunities Bake Off provided.
"Bake Off gave me an opportunity to explore an avenue that was so far out of the equation," he explained. "If I didn't take it, I would forever look back and think what if?"
The baker previously admitted it was Lara who persuaded him to apply for the competition, as he initially believed he "wasn't good enough" to enter.
Throughout the series, Mr Edgell referred to himself as "the official underdog", having acquired most of his baking abilities from his grandmother.
Reflecting on his unexpected victory, he said: "I never thought I would be on the show, let alone win it!"