Great British Bake Off 2026: Everything you need to know about series 17

The Great British Bake Off is one of the most popular shows on British television, which is quite a feat considering that Bake Off is famously twee and prefers technical bakes and soggy bottoms to wine tosses and screams of “Rickayyyyy” (yes EastEnders, we’re looking at you).

The Great British Bake Off debuted on the BBC in the summer of 2010 and went on to achieve huge success, resulting in renewed fame for the original line-up of judges and presenters, namely Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.

Then, in the 2014 series, there was drama. An event which lives long in the memory of confectioners and sweet treat aficionados, one contestant made the decision to remove her fellow baker Iain’s Baked Alaska from the freezer prematurely, causing it to melt and resulting in Iain throwing his creation in the bin. The moment secured GBBO’s place in British television history, sparking a huge national debate which saw the scandal grace the front page of several national newspapers and someone change Diana’s Wikipedia page to label her an ‘ice cream melting supervillain’ (bit harsh).

In 2017, the BBC made the shocking announcement that Great British Bake Off would be leaving the channel and finding a new home on Channel 4. The move also saw judge Mary Berry, plus hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc quit the show. Judge Paul Hollywood stayed and was soon joined by Dame Prue Leith, though things are shaking up for 2026. Nigella Lawson is taking over from Prue in the upcoming series, after Leith announced she’d be stepping back from the show after nine years as a judge. But one thing’s for sure: we can expect plenty of the same Bake Off magic for this new series.

The Great British Bake Off is returning for its 17th series, and we’ve got all the details on everything you could need to know. Read below to get all the answers you’ve been looking for - happy baking!

Who are the Great British Bake Off contestants 2026?

Below you'll find the lucky 12 who will be baking for the Great British Bake Off apron this year. Read on to find out a little bit about this year's contestants, including their baking styles and what they like to do when they're not in the kitchen!

Clara, 24

Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara is a marketing graduate currently living in Hertfordshire. Having taken up baking two years ago as a creative outlet, Clara brings plenty of energy and colour to her bakes, following the belief that ‘the first bite of a bake is always with the eyes.’ Clara loves recreating Portuguese classics, particularly for her fiance Kieran, sharing her heritage through dishes such as pastel de nata. Outside of the kitchen, Clara can be found with her head in a fantasy book or with her spaniel Gigi or pygmy hedgehog Pecan.

Connie, 63

Connie is from London, and has worked for the NHS as a discharge lead for the past 20 years. Known as 'the Cake Lady', baking has become Connie's outlet after a busy day at work, unwinding by baking carrot cakes and various other treats packed full of rum fruit, lemon and lavender. Connie is also a bit of a film fanatic, with a love of classic black-and-white films, and is always listening to an audiobook as she bakes. She lives with her husband Myke, and together the two run a music centre (where Connie is always trying out new recipes on the students). 

Danni, 25

Danni is an HGV service centre administrator, living in Dorset. Their signature bakes start outside of the kitchen, with Danni foraging for ingredients and then using those in their bakes. You can expect their bakes to be packed full of unusual flavours such as chestnut and dandelion, alongside ube and red bean paste. With a passion for tech, Danni's bakes often showcase video game and animation designs. Always looking to try something new, Danni has countless projects on the go including anime doodling and designing websites.

Gabe, 32

Raised in Grimsby, Gabe is an artist and drag king, currently living in the West Midlands, where they produce theatre shows and perform under the persona, Blü Romantic. Gabe discovered baking after watching the first series of Bake Off, and has been baking since the age of 13. Gabe's creative flair shines through in their bakes, and they specialise in savoury bakes and meringues! Gabe has several passions outside of baking, whether it's costume design, gardening or hosting dinner parties. 

Gary, 67

A former garment technologist, Gary discovered baking later in life after buying a cookbook in a gift shop just a few years ago. His bakes are creative, though there's plenty of method and precision in each treat, with exceptional presentation and plenty of bold, citrus flavours. Having beaten prostate cancer, Gary uses his bakes to raise funds for cancer charities and awareness about the illness. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife Donna, surrounded by nature, the perfect spot to walk his two border collies.

Mo, 21

A law student living in the West Midlands with his family, Mo's passion for baking began at the age of three, when he would pretend to cook with Play-Doh. A few years later, he began experimenting with mug cakes and boxed cake mixes, and has never looked back. Now, Mo's bakes are more precise and professional-looking and he often plays around with traditional British classics, putting his own spin on things by infusing Asian flavours. When he's not in the kitchen, Mo loves heading to the gym to lift weights or practise calisthenics. 

Molly, 31

Living in London with her husband Ash and their sausage dog, Molly is an accessibility coordinator for a disability charity where she reviews accessibility in transport. Her love of baking began when she was just a child, inspired by her grandmother, and centres around traditional bakes and classic flavours such as hazelnut and mint. In 2020, during a difficult period in her life, Molly used baking as a way to stay motivated and took her skills to the next level. She's also a huge musical theatre fan, having been involved in local drama groups, and enjoys Formula 1 and cross-stitching.

Moyin, 22

Moyin is a political economy student from Essex, where he lives with his mum, sister and grandmother. Moyin began baking at a young age, but that passion quickly solidified and by the age of 14, he'd mastered the art of the macaron. His bakes are precise, but full of personality, and he often uses flavours inspired by his Nigerian heritage, whether it's grains of paradise or groundnuts. Outside of baking, Moyin is a competitive sprinter, and enjoys fashion, collecting vinyl and visiting comedy clubs.

Nikki, 50

Nikki has always turned to baking as a form of therapy, first taking to the kitchen with her mum at the age of seven. Her bakes are as bright and colourful as she is, and can always be found listening to a soundtrack that reflects her bake. She lives in London with her partner Tom and 16-year-old daughter, Ava, and nothing makes her happier than being surrounded by loved ones. A former podium dancer, Nikki still loves hitting the dance floor, as well as going on theatre trips and long walks. She even recently completed a 100-mile walk to raise money for breast cancer.

Shannon, 29

Having grown up in Bristol, Shannon now lives out in the countryside in Gloucestershire with fiance Scott and her two dogs, bringing her love of nature to her bakes. She was taught to bake by her nan and creates whimsical and quirky bakes, and loves heading out into the great outdoors and cooking with ingredients she's grown in her own garden. A project planner and scheduler by day, Shannon brings plenty of precision to her bakes, though there's still room for chaos. 

Tom, 25

Tom is a hairdresser from West Yorkshire, where he loves oversharing about his personal life and bringing in his bakes for his colleagues to taste-test. Tom's bakes are witty and pretty, and he has a particularly famous salted caramel brownie recipe. He first learnt to bake from his nan as a child, when his older brother was away at football matches. When he's not in the kitchen, Tom loves to travel, and recently spent seven months exploring Southeast Asia with his boyfriend, Alex.

Yannis, 28

A paediatric doctor living in London, Yannis spends his days working in a busy NICU and is always bringing his cakes to the ward to spread joy and win over the rest of his team. Originally from Vienna, Yannis moved to the UK aged 11, so he brings plenty of different food cultures to his bakes. He began cooking with his grandmother, and even used Bake Off to help him learn English after he made the move. In his free time, Yannis is also a bhangra dancer and is known for his legendary shimmy. 

Everything you need to know about Great British Bake Off 2026

Need a refresher? Here's everything you need to know about Great British Bake Off 2026, including when it airs, what the format is, and who judges the competition.

When is the release date for Great British Bake Off 2026?

The official start date for series 17 of The Great British Bake Off is Tuesday 22 September, when it will air on Channel 4 at 8pm. 

What are the three challenges in The Great British Bake Off?

Each episode of The Great British Bake Off follows the same format, with bakers asked to complete three challenges in every episode. At the end of the day, one contestant is crowned that week’s Star Baker and one contestant is sent home. Although the format remains the same throughout the series, each episode is focused around a different theme, such as ‘bread week’ or ‘biscuit week’.

The Signature Bake

Every week, the first task the bakers undertake is the Signature Bake. For this challenge, the contestants have to create a classic baked treat, giving it a rustic and home-made feel. In the last series, signature bakes included mini rolls, brandy snaps and focaccia.

The Technical

The second challenge the bakers face is the Technical. Here, bakers are tasked with recreating a classic bake using a limited recipe. Each baker is given the same recipe sheet and instructions, but key elements have been intentionally left out and its up to the bakers to fill in the gaps.

The Showstopper

The final challenge the bakers face each week is the Showstopper. This is the chance for contestants to really show off their skills, by creating something that is dramatic and elaborate. Of course, in order to win the coveted Star Baker accolade, the bakes need to taste just as good as they look.

How does The Great British Bake Off final work?

The final round of The Great British Bake Off sees three remaining contestants battle it out to take the Bake Off crown. The format of the final isn’t dissimilar to the rest of the series, with the three remaining bakers still undergoing a signature, technical and showstopper challenge.

The specific tasks for the 2026 final have yet to be revealed, but you can expect a series of challenges that will push the bakers to their limits. 

Where can I watch The Great British Bake Off 2026?

GBBO originally aired on the BBC, but was controversially sold to a new channel in 2016. The 2026 series will be the ninth one to air on Bake Off’s new home, Channel 4.

Who are the Great British Bake Off judges?

Leaving the BBC and moving to Channel 4 meant a bit of reshuffling for the Bake Off judges. The panel controversially lost fan favourite Mary Berry while retaining original judge Paul Hollywood who was joined by TV chef and restaurateur Prue Leith. 

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged the show together for almost a decade, but 2026 is shaking things up with a new addition to the judging team. Nigella Lawson will be taking over from Prue Leith for the upcoming series. 

Who are the Great British Bake Off hosts? 

The Great British Bake Off 2026 will retain its hosts for the 17th series. Noel Fielding will be returning for his eighth year on the show, whilst This Morning star Alison Hammond will return for her fourth series after replacing Matt Lucas back in 2023.

Who won the Great British Bake Off 2025?

After 10 weeks of baking for their place in the final, the three contestants who made it to the last episode of series 16 were Aaron, Jasmine and Tom. Of course, only one could take home the crown:

This year, it was Jasmine who took home the GBBO trophy, with Paul commenting that she is the most talented baker they've had on the show for quite a while now. Even more remarkable is the fact that while competing in GBBO, Jasmine was also studying for her medical exams and during the last few weeks, she had the added pressure of sitting those exams. She passed all of them. Hat's off to her!

Tom lamented that his excellent performance this week had given him hope, but, like most of us, he felt the winner was a done deal. As he told Jasmine (very sweetly) after the winner was revealed: ‘It was always you.’

How do you get on Great British Bake Off?

If you find yourself lusting after the glory of the Great British Bake Off apron, maybe you should give it a go yourself. Be aware that the application process is a long one - if you fulfil all the entry criteria (over 16, not a professional baker, free during all of the filming process), you can start by filling out an online application form, before moving on to a phone interview, a face-to-face interview, screen test and finally a real life technical challenge. Good luck!

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Image credits: Channel 4