Britain's best biscuit dunker crowned - and it's not who you might expect

29 May 2024 , 07:00

830     0

Britain's best biscuit dunker crowned - and it's not who you might expect

Simon Girma, a 35-year-old tea and biscuit enthusiast, has been crowned the winner of the first-ever National Dunking Championship in central London.

The competition, hosted by McVitie's, saw contestants compete in a 'dunk off', where they had to dunk their biscuit in a hot drink for as long as possible without it breaking.

The retrieved biscuit must remain intact or the participant loses the round. The contestant with the most points after three rounds progresses, all under the scrutiny of biscuit experts.

Each round featured a different biscuit, testing the contestants' knowledge of each one's dunking properties. Simon emerged victorious after several intense rounds, including a sudden death tie-breaker. The biscuit that secured his win? The Chocolate Hobnob, a favourite among dunkers worldwide.

Speaking about his victory, Simon said: "I'm so proud to be the winner of the first ever McVitie's Dunking Championship. It was an amazing competition, credit to all the other contestants who were worthy opponents, but I knew my extensive dunk training regime would come good. It just goes to show that having a biscuit with my tea has finally paid off."

Morrisons is slashing over 130 prices on its saver-products from today

The gameplay was overseen by a panel of judges, led by the biscuit maker's chief dunking officer, Dr Helen Pilcher.

Simon Girma, a creative designer from North London, won the inaugural National Dunking Championship in central London. (SWNS - MICHAEL LECKIE)

The championship's most memorable moment was undoubtedly the Jaffa Cake round an unconventional choice for dunking that left competitors baffled due to its distinctive spongey texture.

The Rich Tea segment also presented a challenge, with participants striving to maintain composure and avoid a soggy catastrophe.

Dr Pilcher's research revealed that a Hobnob can endure 12.5 seconds in a hot beverage before succumbing, while the 'dunking danger zone' for a Rich Tea begins at just 8.8 seconds, making it a riskier option.

Dr Pilcher commented: "Being the judge of the National Dunking Championship felt like the perfect evolution of my role as chief dunking officer. The contestants were all amazing and had brilliant biscuit knowledge."

"As a dunking enthusiast myself, it was extremely rewarding to see my dunking research put into practice and brought to life in such a unique way."

Martin Winter