MEET THE BAKERS

MAGGIE, 70

Baking comes easy to Maggie, a retired nurse and midwife from Dorset. She loves canoeing and sailing – and her favourite thing to bake is bread.

JÜRGEN, 56

He moved to the UK in 2003 and, unable to find traditional German bread, decided to make his own, sparking a passion for baking.

TOM, 28

Four years ago, Tom made a sticky toffee pudding for his dad and discovered a love of baking. He rustles up everything from pies to bread.

FREYA, 19

Student Freya has dreamed of being on Bake Off since she was nine. She likes to be “unexpected” with her baking, which is mostly vegan.

LIZZIE, 28

Liverpudlian

Lizzie is studying criminology and loves baking cakes. She may look “frantic and messy”, but is often calm on the inside.

CHIRAG, 40

Sales manager Chirag from Leicestershire only started baking during lockdown, teaching himself complex bakes via online videos.

JAIRZENO, 51

“Baking is like breathing” for Trinidad-born Jairzeno. He obsesses over flavour and uses lots of Caribbean spices.

AMANDA, 56

A police detective, Amanda’s style is creative with Greek and Middle Eastern influences. She likes to start her day with an outdoor swim.

CRYSTELLE, 26

The enthusiastic singer loves using spices like turmeric and curry powder in her bakes and even adds in spring onions.

GEORGE, 34

Married to his childhood sweetheart, dadof-three George gives his bakes a touch of class with a shabby-chic, vintage vibe.

GIUSEPPE, 45

Italian Giuseppe, whose dad was a chef, is a selfconfessed food snob. He wants to give his three sons homemade treats, not from the shop.

ROCHICA, 27

A dancer as a child, Rochica started baking when an injury left her unable to dance. Her bakes reflect her Caribbean heritage.