by Lorraine Gibson.

Great British Bake Off winner, Syabira Yusoff has revealed that she’s a tank fanatic and is visiting Dorset’s Tank Museum to get up close and personal to a few of their exhibits.
Last year’s winner of the hit TV show, who will join in the award-winning attraction’s centenary celebrations, also disclosed that she plays computer games about tanks to relax and that on a previous visit to the museum she got to hug her favourite type, the Panther.

The Sunday, February 26, celebration event is called The Tank Museum’s 100th Birthday Baking Battle, and Syabira will meet fans and judge a cake competition. Anyone can enter and participants get free admission to the museum.
One of the prizes up for grabs is a half-day cookery experience at the five-star Chewton Glen Hotel near New Milton, a favourite hideaway of celebrities.

The now-famous baker, originally from Malaysia and who is cardiovascular research associate at King’s College in London, wowed the telly show’s judges with her baking skills.
So much so that she was named Star Baker three times and received a Hollywood handshake during Hallowe’en week.
Judge Paul Hollywood described her red velvet cake as: ‘perfect, and better than my cake.’
Fellow judge, Prue Leith said: “She is creative… she practises like anything and she is imaginative; she just has the lot… a very skilful baker.”
Syabira said: “My interest in tanks was inspired by an online WWII simulation game, which I play to relax.
“It enables me to operate tanks so I just had to go and see them in real life and was amazed at how big they are.
“I even hugged my favourite, the Panther, but I didn’t get to see the famous Tiger 131, as it must have been in for repairs but hopefully I’ll see it in February.
“I didn’t expect the museum to be so vast and to have such a huge collection of armour. It really was a great day out and I can’t wait to go back again. I watched TANKFEST on YouTube and am looking forward to attending the live event in the summer.”
Visitor experience general manager, Rosanna Dean, from the museum in Bovington, said: “Learning that Syabira was a tank fan came as a surprise but we’re chuffed she’s agreed to return to help us celebrate.

“Syabira will judge our baking fair and competition and we’re asking entrants to send in pictures of their cakes.
“We’re hoping those on the shortlist will re-bake their cakes to bring to the museum for Syabira to see in person.”
To enter, find out more about the 100th birthday Baking Battle, or to apply for a trade stand, visit tankmuseum.org/events/100th-birthday-baking-battle.