3 days Ago By Yahoo TV UK
has revealed the keen cakemakers hoping to be crowned the cream of the crop in this year's competition. Next week, we'll return to the tent for the start of the 2024 series with hosts and Noel Fielding helping 12 nervous bakers find their way around the kitchen. Here's all you need to know about the latest batch of contestants hoping to impress judges Paul Hollywood and by becoming Star Baker.
Andy Age: 44 From: Essex Occupation: Car mechanic Sporty Andy lives an active lifestyle, but his heart is in the kitchen. He first learned to bake from his mum, and loves to cook for his partner and daughter now. He lists his specialities as bread, and meat pies.
Telling the emotional story of how he found out he'd been picked for this year's series, Andy said: "It was such a dream to finally get to be a part of this wonderful show. Unfortunately for me it probably came at the worst ever time with my father-in-law being on his end of life treatment and the mother-in-law having Alzheimer’s. "I was en route to see him at the time.
I pulled over and just screamed of joy, what an absolute dream. Then once I got to his home I managed to be blessed with having what turned out to be our final conversation. I told him and his eyes lit up and he said, 'wait until everybody goes and we’ll talk all about it'.
So many, many mixed emotions." Christiaan Age: 33 From: London Occupation: Menswear designer Netherlands-born fashion designer Christiaan has been living in London for seven years and when he's not creating clothes or baking, he loves to work in his vegetable patch. He thinks his eye for design will be a strength in the contest.
Christiaan said: "Alison and Noel are just absolute legends. Alison is just everything you think she will be, but even better! Her energy is amazing. Also – I don’t think I have a single shirt that I wore on the show that does not have her make up on it – and I won’t be washing them.
"Noel is just great. I think we had a good fashion connection too. He once was a muse for a Dutch designer I know.
" Dylan Age: 20 From: Buckinghamshire Occupation: Retail temp Fresh from a gap year in South-East Asia, Dylan has been inspired to bring lots of different flavours to his bakes. He also draws on his roots for ideas in his recipes, looking to his heritage from his Indian mum and Japanese-Belgian dad. Dylan is a keen skateboarder and loves to paint, including his own designs on his clothes, so look out for some beautiful decoration on his cakes.
Dylan said of feeling at home in the tent: "Everyone behind the camera was super cool, and I got to know them all very quickly so it always just felt like hanging out with friends." Georgie Age: 34 From: Carmarthenshire Occupation: Paediatric nurse Georgie lives an incredibly busy life - she's a mum of three, a paediatric nurse and lives in a farmhouse packed with animals. But she still finds the time to forage for food in the fields and hedgerows nearby, and takes inspiration from her Italian roots as well as her travels.
She said: "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 Age: 53 From: Lancashire Occupation: Senior category manager Gill loves to bake the British classics, and since her dad died in 2015 she has put her skills to good use by baking for charity sales in aid of Alzheimer's research in tribute to him. The Great British Bake Off isn't Gill's only claim to fame - back in 1993 she was the UK's youngest driving instructor at 21 years old. She said: "I made my wedding cake back in the day which was seven cakes with sugar flowers – it even had a light! The longest I have spent on a cake more recently is about 30 hours to make a golf bag cake complete with clubs.
" Hazel Age: 71 From: Kent Occupation: Former nail technician Mum-of-four and grandmother-of-10 Hazel loves to gather her family for celebrations, which more often than not include one of her incredible cakes. She has made remote control car cakes, carousel cakes, and 500 edible diamonds for her loved ones. Hazel said: "When I carried my Showstopper handbag by the handle to the judging table everyone clapped, even Paul, Prue, Noel and Alison.
That felt good." Illiyin Age: 31 From: Norfolk Occupation: Birth trauma specialist midwife Midwife, published author and mum-of-two Illiyin loves to make celebration cakes for her large family - she's one of eight siblings. She draws on inspiration from the many cultures in her extended family, including Middle-Eastern, Caribbean and Spanish flavours.
Talking about her most special moment in episode one, she said: "Definitely placing my mum’s photo on my workbench. She would’ve been so excited, I know it. It felt like she was there with me.
" Jeff Age: 67 From: West Yorkshire Occupation: Former university lecturer Jeff was born and raised in New York, but moved to Yorkshire in 1979 after meeting his British wife who was travelling around the US. Sporty Jeff loves basketball, swimming and the gym. He says he likes to bake the classics including New York cheesecake and red velvet cake, but he's not afraid to challenge himself.
He said: "I like making illusion cakes and I have made entremets which are very flavoursome. I like a challenge sometimes and I have made a sweet potato pie – it’s like an alternative to pumpkin pie." John Age: 37 From: West Midlands Occupation: Directorate support manager John has had many incarnations, having worked as a hairdresser and an estate agent - but he now enjoys a busy role in the NHS where he keeps schedules and operating theatre bookings running like clockwork.
He loves to relax on walks with his dog - and of course, baking, having learned his skills from his late nan. He said: "Just thinking of the Tent gives me goosebumps, seeing it for the first time was one of those pinch me moments. What made it even more special was seeing it for the first time with my fellow Bakers.
It’s a bond that we will all cherish forever." Mike Age: 29 From: Wiltshire Occupation: Farm manager Fourth-generation farmer Mike works on his family farm with his parents and sister, and has been an NFU ambassador as well as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community within farming. He is growing all the flowers for his forthcoming wedding, as well as of course baking his own wedding cake, using seasonal ingredients and edible flowers from the farm.
Mike said: "Meeting Alison was up there as one of the foremost reasons that I applied for the show this year - I have always adored her and meeting her has always been a massive dream of mine. On day one at the tent, we Bakers were waiting on the steps and we heard Alison’s laughter coming from across the lawn, as soon as I heard that laugh I burst into tears." Nelly Age: 44 From: Dorset Occupation: Palliative care assistant Nelly works as a night-time palliative care assistant and is a mum to two young boys, but loves to unwind by baking for her family.
She grew up in Slovakia, studied nursing in Austria and her husband has Pakistani heritage, so she brings a huge variety of flavours to her bakes. She said: "It was like in a dream..
.I never would think in my whole life that one day it would be me who walked down the pathway to the bench. I’m living in England for 19 years now, and I never miss one GBBO, it is our family show.
And now I will be part of this show, I cannot believe this has happened to me!" Sumayah Age: 19 From: Lancashire Occupation: Dentistry student Sumayah might be training as a dentist, but that hasn't curbed her sweet tooth when it comes to baking. She's currently on a gap year and has been pursuing all sorts of creative talents before knuckling down to study - including photography and sewing clothes. She also made a metre-high macaron tower for her aunt's wedding celebration, so she's used to working under pressure.
Sumayah spilled the secrets of the tent, revealing: "Judging takes forever. Hours sometimes. I wish I could have glued a pole to my back to keep me upright on the chairs.
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