The Great British Bake Off will be back on screens from next week with its 15th season. Alongside hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond will be returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, as they seek to find the nation's top amateur baker once again. Before the first soggy bottoms of the season are prepared, let's meet those hoping to become the next Star Baker.
The Great British Bake Off returns next Tuesday (September 24) at 8pm on Channel 4.
Andy
Name: Andy
Age: 44
Hometown: Essex
Job: Car Mechanic
Key Quote: "My strengths I’d say are probably making Bread and also Meat pies. My weakness is definitely eating too much bread and pies!"
Christiaan
Name: Christiaan
Age: 33
Hometown: London
Job: Menswear Designer
Key Quote: "As a baker, one of my strengths is to not be afraid to try out new things, taking risks which may pay off or they may not. I also think my background in fashion can play to my strengths, when thinking about design/details/colours/etc."
Dylan
Name: Dylan
Age: 20
Hometown: Buckinghamshire
Job: Retail Assistant
Key Quote: "Popcorn is my favourite snack, salted popcorn, I can eat only popcorn for days and be fine."
Georgie
Name: Georgie
Age: 34
Hometown: Carmarthenshire
Job: Paediatric Nurse
Key Quote: "My strengths as a baker are that I have had many different influences in the kitchen from a young age so I have played with lots of various techniques. As a mother I never have much time so I always try to be able to pack as much flavour into my baking and cooking, in little time. My ADHD does affect my everyday life and most definitely baking. When I can hyperfocus on a bake I can do it to the best of my ability in a short space of time. On the flip side this can also cause me to rush and make mistakes! Another weakness I feel is that I am quite heavy-handed, so can struggle with intricate designs."
Gill
Name: Gill
Age: 53
Hometown: Lancashire
Job: Senior Category Manager
Key Quote: "I was most worried about walking down the steps to the tent as I am not the most graceful and then I ending up walking at the front with Mike. He was lovely and kept hold of me as we tackled the stairs!"
Hazel
Name: Hazel
Age: 71
Hometown: Kent
Job: Former Nail Technician
Key Quote: "My strengths are making beautiful cakes and my weaknesses are baking biscuits."
Illiyin
Name: Illiyin
Age: 31
Hometown: Norfolk
Job: Birth Trauma Specialist Midwife
Key Quote: "My strengths are definitely flavour and my weaknesses are finesse! I always rush and so often don’t have time to neatly finish in the way I want to."
Jeff
Name: Jeff
Age: 67
Hometown: West Yorkshire
Job: Former University Lecturer
Key Quote: "I will start with the weaknesses in that I don’t get things right the first time, and have to redo it. My strengths are my flavours. I like making a red chocolate velvet cake with a raspberry goo which is denser than jam. I am a very traditional baker and I tend to stick to bakes that I like and I know that other people like."
John
Name: John
Age: 37
Hometown: West Midlands
Job: Directorate Support Manager
Key Quote: "I would say my strengths are certainly cake-related and bread is not the strongest aspect of my baking but you know what they say… practice makes perfect!"
Mike
Name: Mike
Age: 29
Hometown: Wiltshire
Job: Farm Manager
Key Quote: "My biggest baking strength is being able to whip up a massive cake for a big celebration, or a huge batch of sweet treats to feed a big gathering, all at the last minute. I am most likely to be baking after midnight - my friends always make fun of my midnight baking sessions, but they enjoy the fruits of my labour nonetheless. We’ve got a big family and a big friend group and I never like to go anywhere empty-handed.
"My weaknesses are timing and finesse (neither of which are important in the tent, right?). If I start baking at midnight, I usually wouldn’t finish until 3am, and by that time my finesse is even more lacking than usual, especially coupled with my poor coordination thanks to my dyspraxia."
Nelly
Name: Nelly
Age: 44
Hometown: Dorset
Job: Palliative Care Assistant
Key Quote: "Haha there is not much strength in my baking…. I am sure they chose me by mistake haha… but I think generally in my life my strength is my joy… joy of life and I take everything in my life as it comes and turn it to something positive. So if a cake goes wrong I will improvise and always fix it somehow. Buttercream is a great invention! My weakness is decorations and finesse… I have never been very good In those areas."
Sumayah
Name: Sumayah
Age: 19
Hometown: Lancashire
Job: Dentistry Student
Key Quote: "My strength lies in decoration and detail, my weak spot is just bread baking in general. Although I do love breadmaking, I feel like I don’t understand it enough yet to truly push myself."
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
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