Sophie Faldo ‘categorically’ denies benefit fraud: Great British Bake Off 2017 winner shuts down 'untrue' reports

Great British Bake Off finalist Sophie Faldo has "categorically" denied claims that she has committed benefit fraud.

It follows reports in The Sun that Faldo was ‘being investigated’ by the Department of Work and Pensions after she allegedly claimed a single person’s allowance despite living with her boyfriend.

A spokesman for the Channel 4 show defended the trainee stuntwoman, who is a finalist on this year’s series of the cooking competition, explaining that she had declared the "change in circumstances" to the relevant authority.

“Sophie has recently declared a change in her circumstances to the DWP.

“A meeting to reassess her situation, scheduled for last Friday was postponed by her local job centre until next week. Any suggestion of benefit fraud relating to Sophie is categorically untrue,” the spokesman said.

The Sun newspaper originally reported that an investigator had spotted Faldo’s GBBO biography on the Channel 4 website which stated that she lived with her boyfriend.

A source told the publication: “She is being investigated for benefit fraud. She has been saying her partner doesn’t live with her – but he does. They have been caught out. She was unemployed and said she was applying for some sort of rent support.”

​Faldo faced fellow competitors Steven Carter-Bailey and Kate Lyon in Tuesday night’s final.

The 33-year-old was crowned the ultimate star baker after creating consistently good bakes and impressing Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with her "exceptional" entremet showstopper.

The final of The Great British Bake Off airs Tuesday, October 30 at 8pm on Channel 4.