GBBO winner Candice sparks engagement rumours as she flashes a new ring while signing books on her first day reigning as Bake Off queen

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GBBO winner Candice Brown sparked rumours that she might be engaged after turning up for her first day as Bake Off queen with a ring on her left hand.

The 31-year-old PE teacher, who won last night's nail-biting final with an almost flawless set of bakes, was wearing a ring on her engagement finger as she signed books in Waterstones this morning.

Earlier this week, Ms Brown - who was also sporting a new hair do and her trademark lipstick and heels - posted a photograph on Instagram which showed her wearing a ring on the finger.

The amateur baker has been with her 30-year-old boyfriend Liam Macaulay - who appeared on last night's final congratulating Ms Brown on her win - since 2012.

Bake Off queen Candice Brown has sparked rumours that she might be engaged after turning up for her first day with a ring on her left hand (pictured)

But her agent later confirmed to MailOnline that the Bake Off winner was not engaged

He has previously served 16 months in jail for dealing cannabis. It is understood that Miss Brown had nothing to do with the crime and was not dating him at the time. 

Miss Brown's agent later confirmed to MailOnline that the Bake Off winner was not engaged to Mr Macauley.

Experts say Miss Brown, from Bedford, could be in line for a £1m career thanks to her win. 

Her future plans are unknown but she has already revealed that she is off on a 'baking road trip' with runner up Jane Beedle.

During last night's episode, Ms Brown earned a handshake from Paul Hollywood for her four-tier meringue cake and impressed Mary Berry with a ‘humdinger’ of a showstopper.  

Ms Brown had been odds-on favourite going into the final, having been star baker three times in the series thanks to her ambitious bakes, including a peacock made out of marzipan.

She attracted the support of thousands of fans, many of whom complimented her stylish appearance. But she was unpopular with some viewers due to her tantrums earlier in the series.

The 31-year-old PE teacher (left and right), who won last night's nail-biting final with an almost flawless set of bakes, was wearing a ring on  her engagement finger as she signed books in Waterstones this morning

The amateur baker (pictured) was also wearing her trademark heels and lipstick for her first day of the job

Earlier this week, Ms Brown posted a photograph on Instagram (pictured) with a baby which also showed her wearing a ring on the finger

On several occasions she cried when receiving criticism, and during ‘bread week’ she came dangerously close to leaving the competition after serving raw dough and a collapsed chocolate loaf.

But her trio of creations last night made her a clear winner over fellow finalists Andrew Smyth, 25, and Jane Beedle, 61. 

Last night's final scored its highest viewing figures ever, with an average of 14m TV fans tuning in to watch, compared with the overnight average of 13.4 million who watched Nadiya Hussain take the crown last year.

The popular programme peaked with an audience 14.8 million in overnight figures, although numbers are set to rise as people watch later on catch-up services. Last year's figure was 14.5m.   

The amateur baker has been with her 30-year-old boyfriend Liam Macaulay (with whom she is pictured) - who was shown in the final congratulating Ms Brown on her win - since 2012

Miss Brown posted a photograph with her boyfriend when they went to Kefalonia, Greece 

Following the keen baker's win, eagle-eyed fans spotted a ring on the third finger of her left hand in an Instagram picture and suggested she might be engaged.

Her boyfriend featured in the episode, hugging and kissing her as he congratulated her, but she was not wearing an engagement ring during filming.

Fans were quick to praise Ms Brown's boyfriend's good looks with one writing: 'How does Candice get a pug, a hot boyfriend and a trophy this is not fair.' 

Another viewer joked: 'Candice's boyfriend!!! #soggybottom'.  

After the winner was announced at a celebration attended by the family and friends of the three finalists, Ms Brown said: 'When they said my name that means more to me than anyone will ever realise.

The Bake Off winner also appeared on Loose Women this morning, following her Bake Off win

'I have low self-belief, even though my friends and family constantly build my confidence up. So it was a big moment in my life, probably the biggest so far.

'I felt that everything happens for a reason, and I did it, and that makes me smile so much. In fact, I can't stop smiling.'

Ms Brown, Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer Smyth and garden designer Beedle appeared to be neck and neck throughout the final, during which they tackled a showstopper challenge hailed by the hosts as 'the biggest ever final challenge in Bake Off history'. 

Candice Brown was overcome with emotion as she was announced at the winner of the show

The PE teacher, 31, took the title ahead of rivals Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth and said it was the biggest moment of her life so far

She has made everything from a pub made entirely out of gingerbread to a picnic hamper fit for the Queen, all while wearing her trademark heels and lipstick

To fit in with the royal theme of the week, to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, the bakers were tasked with creating a picnic fit for the monarch.

That included one chocolate celebration cake, 12 puff pastry sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones and 12 fruit and custard tarts.

Ms Brown's picnic was universally praised, with even her bacon, mushroom and black pudding sausage rolls getting a seal of approval. Her chocolate cake was also deemed delicious. 

Ms Brown is an aspiring model, and posted this snap in an attempt to work on a Marc Jacobs campaign

Ms Brown (bottom left) often meets up with her fellow GBBO contestants, such as finalists Andrew Smyth (top left) and Jane Beedle (centre)

Ms Brown is active on social media often posts glamorous pictures of herself

After the final, Ms Brown revealed she had hidden her winner's trophy in an antique chest.

She added: 'I love baking and this has increased my love of baking. If I can get my little vintage shop selling tea and cakes with random antiques that would be my ultimate dream.

'Let's wait and see what will come my way but I will be grabbing it with both hands and running with it, that's for sure. It would be crazy not to, wouldn't it?'

The final marked the last time Mary Berry will serve as a judge and Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts before judge Paul Hollywood switches channel with the programme, apart from the forthcoming festive specials.