© Photo: Channel 4Great British Bake Off is almost back on our screen, and it's time to meet the new batch of contestants! The 12 lucky bakers will be competing to win the popular show with their yummy creations - and we can't wait to find out who we will be falling in love with! Meet them all here...
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Linda, 61
Linda discovered her passion for baking during her frequent childhood visits to her aunt’s dairy farm, where she would help to milk the cows, then carry a bucket of milk into the kitchen, where her aunt taught her to bake cakes topped with rich, creamy icing. She loves classic recipes and comforting bakes - like her signature sausage rolls. She also enjoys fishing and gardening.
© Photo: Channel 4Sura, 31
Sura has plenty of Middle Eastern and Asian influences in her heritage – including Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and India – so she loves baking with ingredients and flavours from all over the world - we can't wait to see some of her creations! She lives in London with her husband and grandma, and also enjoying architecture and design and travel.
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© Photo: Channel 4Hermine, 39
Hermine was born and raised in Benin, West Africa, and moved to London in 2001 to pursue further education. She helped her mum with baking growing up, and also baking millefeuille, éclairs and entremets - not to mention sourdough - a woman after Paul Hollywood's heart! She also loves cooking marmalades and jams to give as gifts - can we be your friend Hermine?!
© Photo: Channel 4Mak, 51
Self-taught baker Mak honed his skills through watching TV shows, reading books and drawing inspiration from famous chefs, and is particularly brilliant at pastry. He shares three children with his wife, and enjoys beekeeping, even producing his own honey which he uses in his creations!
© Photo: Channel 4Laura, 31
Laura began baking at around the age of eight and loves using citrus and strong flavours. She specialises in decoration and is proud to have mastered the art of piped buttercream flowers - her creations are going to look so gorgeous! Laura is happily married to a Police Community Support Officer and she loves musical theatre (both as a performer and audience member). She also volunteers for the Samaritans.
© Photo: Channel 4Dave, 30
Dave is also about the fun baking gadgets as he whips up delicious creations for his girlfriend in their home. He bakes every week (while listening to punk rock), and enjoys baking bread - once again - Paul Hollywood is going to be impressed with this one! When he’s not baking, Dave can be found pursuing his other passions: cars, DIY and taking his dog and cat for walks.
© Photo: Channel 4Peter, 20
Peter grew up feasting on his mum’s home cooking but was inspired to try it himself thanks to Bake Off! He has watched every series since the first and has been baking seriously since he was only 12 years old - that's one way to make us feel old! He loves using Scottish ingredients including berries, whisky, oats and honey whenever he can in his creations. He studies Accounting and Finance at university and is a professional Badminton player.
© Photo: Channel 4Rowan, 55
A self-taught baker extraordinaire, Rowan loves French pâtisserie - so we think we'll see him shine on pastry week! He also had a passion for history, and loves baking 18th-century recipes whenever he can. He is also a fitness enthusiast who loves horse riding, cycling and swimming, and lives in Worcestershire with his partner. Welcome to the tent Rowan!
© Photo: Channel 4Loriea, 27
Loriea uses baking as a means to celebrate her Caribbean roots. She moved to the UK when she was 15 years old, and learned to bake with her grandma. She loves adding coconut, chillies and cinnamon in her food and often tweaks recipes to make them her own. She works as a radiographer, and also enjoys the craft of macramé.
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© Photo: Channel 4Lottie, 31
Lottie has a fascination with cooking from when she was little. When she’s not baking or busy with her job producing pantomime, Lottie will be playing computer games with her young cousins, or practising yoga. See you in the tent, Lottie!
© Photo: Channel 4Marc, 51
Born and raised in Leicester, keen climber Marc spent his youth travelling the world before settling back in the UK and becoming a landscape photographer. He lost his leg in a motorbike accident in 2016, which led him to baking bread as a form of therapy. He’s a support worker and single parent and, with his daughters cheering him on, he’s taken up climbing again. Amazing!
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© Photo: Channel 4Mark, 32
Mark fell in love with baking at a pie shop in Edinburgh – he visited every day while he was at university for the shop’s delicious mac ’n’ cheese pie. His style is hugely influenced by his Irish heritage, but also by the flavours of Africa and Asia, where he travels regularly for his work as a project manager for public health research programmes. He loves wildlife and exploring new places with his wife.
