bakeoff© Photo: BBC

Great British Bake Off: Everything we know about the new series

August 24, 2016

After what has felt like the longest year ever, the Great British Bake Off is back! The BBC One baking competition kicks off Wednesday night – and we couldn't be more excited if we tried. But will the contestants match up to last year's winner, Nadiya Hussian? Here's everything we know about the new series…

Mary Berry's hair

© Photo: BBC

Mary Berry is already stealing the show with her new bouffant!

Okay, first things first: Mary Berry has new hair – and it's fabulous! Forget the cakes and pastries, it's Mary's stylish bouffant that's got everyone talking. The 81-year-old has shown off straighter styles in previous series, and some reports are even claiming food writer Mary has had extensions!

New #GBBO emoji

© Photo: BBC

As if we needed another reason to tweet about the show...

During last year's final, which saw hilarious Nadiya take the crown, a reported average of 2,095 tweets were sent a minute – so it makes perfect sense that GBBO has jumped on the hashtag trend. At midnight on Tuesday, fans were overjoyed to discover the cute tent emoji had been added to #GBBO. It's just another reason to tweet constantly throughout every episode…

The contestants

© Photo: BBC

Click the link below to read all about the new contestants

This year's batch of wannabe champs includes an aerospace engineer, a PE teacher, a nurse and a hairdresser. Here we've rounded up the full line-up – who's your early favourite?

The HOT contestant

© Photo: BBC

Selasi can bake, he works in finance and he does charity work - #dreamy

While talent (looks not cooking) is a bit thin on the ground as usual with Bake Off, one of the contestant has caught our eye. Selasi, 30, is originally from Ghana and moved to the UK 15 years ago. He works in finance and lives with his girlfriend in London. Despite his demanding job, Selasi still finds time to bake and always contributes to the charity bake sales at work.

And, as if being smart and good baking wasn't enough, Selasi also does a lot of charity work; most recently he has completed a half marathon, a 10k race and trekked through Malawi – all to raise money for various causes.

The first challenge

As always details of the first episode are shrouded in secrecy, but what we do know is the contestants will be baking cakes.

The hosts

© Photo: BBC

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins are back with Mary and Paul Hollywood

Fans of the show will be glad to know that the full team is back this year. Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins are returning as the presenters and will reprise their role of basically speaking for Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. But it wouldn't be the same without them, would it?

The Great British Bake Off returns on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One. 

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