LONDON — The Great British Bake Off has revealed the 12 amateur bakers entering the famous white tent for its 2026 series, bringing together a paediatric doctor, drag king, hairdresser, law student and retired garment technologist.
Season 17 will premiere on Tuesday, September 22, at 8pm on Channel 4. The contestants will face the programme’s familiar Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenges as they compete to become the Great British Bake Off 2026 winner.
This year also brings a major change to the judging panel. Nigella Lawson joins long-serving judge Paul Hollywood, replacing Dame Prue Leith following her departure after nine series.
Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond return as presenters, offering encouragement as the bakers deal with unfamiliar recipes, demanding time limits and the pressure of judging.
Who is in the Great British Bake Off 2026 cast?
Clara, 24 — Hertfordshire
Clara is a marketing graduate originally from Aveiro, Portugal. She started baking cakes around two years ago as a creative outlet and enjoys colourful designs featuring fresh and fruity flavours. Portuguese favourites, including pastel de nata-inspired creations, helped shape her early baking journey.
Connie, 63 — London
Known as “the Cake Lady,” Connie works as an NHS hospital discharge lead. She also runs a London music centre with her husband, where students regularly become taste-testers for her recipes. Her bakes frequently feature nostalgic flavours such as rum-soaked fruit, lemon and lavender.
Danni, 25 — Dorset
Danni works as an administrator at an HGV service centre and takes an experimental approach to baking. Their creations can include foraged ingredients such as dandelion, magnolia and chestnut alongside flavours including ube and red bean. Video games and animation are also important sources of inspiration.
Gabe, 32 — West Midlands
Gabe is an artist, costume designer and drag king who performs under the name Blu Romantic. Described as the “Daddy of Birmingham drag,” they have followed Bake Off since its first series. Gabe particularly enjoys savoury, meat-filled bakes as well as meringue.
Gary, 67 — Nottinghamshire
Retired garment technologist Gary discovered his interest in baking later in life after buying his first cookbook about five years ago. A prostate cancer survivor, he also uses bake sales and coffee mornings to support cancer charities.
Molly, 31 — London
Molly is an accessibility coordinator who started baking at the age of six. Traditional recipes and familiar flavours such as hazelnut, mint and fresh fruit feature prominently in her work. Baking also helped her remain connected with friends and family during a difficult period with her health.
Moyin, 22 — Essex
Political economy student Moyin balances university life with athletics, baking and a part-time job. He began baking with his mother at five and incorporates ingredients connected to his Nigerian heritage, including groundnuts and grains of paradise.
Mo, 21 — West Midlands
Mo is a law student whose interest in cooking began when he was a young child pretending to prepare food with Play-Doh. His style focuses on precise presentation, often combining Asian flavours with traditional British recipes.
Nikki, 50 — London
Nikki is an advertising post-producer who describes baking as a form of therapy. She began making treats with her mother when she was seven and now pairs her kitchen sessions with carefully chosen music, from nostalgic R&B to classical tracks.
Shannon, 29 — Gloucestershire
Project planner Shannon is a nature-loving baker who grows some of the ingredients she uses. Originally from Bristol, she now lives in the Gloucestershire countryside and describes her creations as whimsical, rustic and influenced by the natural world.
Tom, 25 — West Yorkshire
Hairdresser Tom describes himself as a “Northern Diva” and enjoys producing bakes that combine humour with polished presentation. Baking with his grandmother provided an escape while he was growing up, while his colleagues now help test recipes such as his salted caramel brownies.
Yannis, 28 — London
Yannis is a paediatric doctor working in a neonatal intensive care unit. Born in Vienna and raised in a Bangladeshi household, he draws on several culinary traditions. His early memories include making bhapa pitha with his grandmother and learning to prepare Austrian treats at school.
Nigella Lawson begins a new Bake Off chapter
The arrival of Nigella Lawson is one of the biggest changes to the programme in recent years. Channel 4 said Lawson would bring her expertise, empathy, humour and passion for flavour to the judging table alongside Hollywood.
Lawson succeeds Prue Leith, who stepped down after nine series. Leith had joined the programme when it moved to Channel 4 and became a familiar part of the judging partnership with Hollywood.
According to the official Channel 4 announcement, filming for the new series took place during the summer and has now been completed.
The series will retain the core format that has made Bake Off one of Britain’s best-known television competitions. Each week, the bakers must complete three challenges before the judges select a Star Baker and decide who will leave the tent.
Food competition viewers can also read about how Bryan Voltaggio made Tournament of Champions history following a dramatic one-point victory.
The Great British Bake Off 2026 begins Tuesday, September 22, at 8pm on Channel 4. Contestant information is based on details released by Channel 4 and Love Productions.
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