The beloved baking competition, The Great British Bake Off, is set to return for its 17th series with a new host, Nigella Lawson, and a fresh cast of 12 amateur bakers. The show will launch on Tuesday, September 22, at 8 p.m. on Channel 4.
Lawson steps in to replace Prue Leith, who departed after nine years. The spin-off show, Extra Slice, has also been replaced by a new program called Second Helpings. Presenters Jo Brand and Tom Allen will not be returning, with Judi Love and Jon Richardson taking their places. However, Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will continue as hosts for the main show.
Among the new contestants is Clara, a 24-year-old marketing graduate from Portugal who moved to the UK at 18. She began baking two years ago as a creative outlet and enjoys making colorful designs. Connie, a 63-year-old NHS hospital discharge lead from London, uses baking as a way to unwind. She was initially placed on the standby list but received a last-minute call to join the competition.
Danni, 25, from Dorset, works as a HGV service centre administrator and enjoys foraging for ingredients. Their baking often features foraged items combined with international flavors. Gabe, 32, from the West Midlands, identifies as the "daddy of Birmingham drag" and discovered baking while watching the show as a teenager. They produce theater shows and perform as their drag persona, Blü Romantic. Gary, a 67-year-old retired garment technologist, took up baking five years ago and favors traditional recipes with a focus on presentation and citrus flavors. Molly, a 31-year-old accessibility coordinator from London, was inspired by her grandmother and turned to baking during a period of health issues in 2020. Moyin, a 22-year-old political economy student from Essex, balances his studies with baking and athletics. He was crowned U20 County Champion in the 100m.
Mo, a 21-year-old law student from the West Midlands, is pursuing a career as a solicitor but has surprised his family with his passion for baking. He has transitioned from using boxed mixes to creating precise cakes infused with Asian flavors. Nikki, a 50-year-old advertising post-producer, finds baking therapeutic and has applied for the show multiple times. Shannon, a 29-year-old project planner, describes her baking style as whimsical and rustic, taught by her grandmother. Tom, 25, a hairdresser from West Yorkshire, has dreamed of being on Bake Off since childhood. Yannis, a 28-year-old paediatric doctor, aims to challenge stereotypes about Bangladeshi men in the kitchen and draws inspiration from various food cultures for his baking.