Bake Off finale failed to rise to the challenge

She of the collapsing biscuit tower? She of the bum loaf? She of the edible flippin' squirrels and sugarplum fairies?

She's the winner? Seriously?

Well thanks a lot Paul and Mary, that's 10 weeks of my life I'll never get back.

Just like last year, when his-face-fits John triumphed over the clearly superior Brendan, Bake Off went a bit nuts when it came to the final.

Frances "style over substance" Quinn was somehow crowned Queen of Quiche over Ruby and Kimberley.

How? Why? The judges pretty much slated her each and every week.

Frances, those giant matchsticks don't taste of anything.

Frances, that hidden carrot cake has the taste and texture of sandpaper.

Frances, your biscuit tower has collapsed and its broken shards have all the flavour of a week-old lettuce leaf.

Am I missing the point here?

I thought Bake Off was supposed to be about good ol' fashioned fairness. Let the best baker win and all that. The reason we tune in week after week is because it's a remedy to all the other "reality" shows out there, where the pretty people win, there's tons of sob stories and the judges and producers manipulate everything get the best twists, turns and, therefore, ratings.

In our utopian Bake Off universe, it doesn't matter how old you are, what you look like or if you're cool or not; if you're the best baker, you shall triumph.

Or so we thought. Sadly it seems shock value and the "this'll make good telly, ruffle a few feathers" mindset has finally arrived at our favourite tent in Somerset.

The whole thing's probably gearing up for the big switch to BBC One.

You watch, Paul and Mary will be in swivelling red thrones next series a la The Voice. And the glorious Mel and Sue will be replaced by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, with Bake Off Xtra on BBC 3 straight after where some no-mark presenter will be asking the latest reject such soul-searchers as "how do you feel?" and "what's next for you?".

Guilty, we were all obsessed with Ruby and Kimberley throughout the entire series and didn't really bother with Frances. But guess what? There's a reason for that – Ruby and Kimberley were the best bakers.

Ruby had natural ability and flair, with an unrivalled skill for flavour. OK, her shed was wonky and her Charlotte Royale looked like a melting Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls but I bet her stuff tasted the best.

Kimberley meanwhile had it all. Her bakes were precise, tasty and looked the part. Sure, she was a bit of a smug know-it-all but that's because she did actually know it all. Not a bad thing in a competition.

So my heart said Ruby and my head said Kimberley. I'm not quite sure which body part was rooting for Frances. My little toe? My elbow? My upper left canine teeth? Who knows? Who cares? She shouldn't have won.

I'm aware at this point I'm sounding slightly hysterical but oh well. Don't tell me it doesn't matter, don't tell me "it's just a TV show" – you wouldn't tell a Wolves or Baggies fan "it's only a game" following a big derby – to me, and millions of others out there, it's important. It stands for something.

Or at least it used to.

Welcome to the shiny new primetime version of the Great British Fake Off, coming to a TV near you sooner than you think.

Follow Elizabeth Joyce on Twitter @lizjoyce_star