Great British Bake Off 2024: Meet this year's contestants

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, as well as resulting in renewed fame for the original line-up of judges and presenters, namely Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc. At one point during the 2014 series, contestant Diana made the decision to remove her fellow baker Iain’s Baked Alaska from a 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, although judge Paul Hollywood stayed. The revamped series now airs on Channel 4 towards the end of each year and has since been warmly received by most critics and viewers, proving that Bake Off hadn’t lost its magic.

Now, The Great British Bake Off is back for its 15th 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!

When is the release date for Great British Bake Off 2024?

The official start date for series 15 of The Great British Bake Off 2024 is Tuesday 24th September at 8pm on Channel 4. 

Who are the Great British Bake Off contestants 2024?

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!

Andy, 44

Andy is a car mechanic from Essex who fell in love with baking as a child, when he would bake alongside his mum. Andy now lives with his partner and daughter, who he hopes to inspire with his baking. Outside of the kitchen, Andy loves sports, so you’ll often find him playing football, at the gym, or going on long walks with his family and miniature Schnauzer.

Christiaan, 33

Born in Emmen, in The Netherlands, Christiaan moved to the UK seven years ago to work for a leading fashion brand. This eye for design is evident in his bakes which are intricately detailed and eye-catching, combining this love of fashion with his passion for gardening, so you can expect to see floral and citrus notes across his bakes. In his free time, you’ll find Christiaan exploring modern art galleries and stately homes across the country.

Dylan, 20

Dylan is a retail assistant from Buckinghamshire whose desire for travel recently took him across Southeast Asia on a gap year. His bakes reflect his roots - his mother is Indian and his father Japanese-Belgian - as well as his travels, so you can expect bakes that experiment with spice as well as showcasing Japanese-inspired decoration. Dylan is also a big fan of skateboarding.

Georgie, 34

Paediatric nurse Georgie grew up cooking with her Nonna Rosa, showcasing her Italian roots, alongside a love of nature, in everything that she cooks. Inspired by the food growing in fields around her, Georgie likes to forage for ingredients, as well as using fresh produce from her own garden, where you’ll also find ten chickens, two ducks, two dogs and a cat. With a love of musicals, you’ll often find Georgie singing away in her kitchen as she bakes.

Gill, 53

Baking has always been a huge part of Gill’s life, a passion that she shares with her family. She’s found a lot of comfort in baking since her father passed away and uses her skills to raise money for Alzheimer’s charities. She particularly likes to bake his signature lemon meringue pie recipe in his memory. Gill describes her style as very traditional, but with a modern twist - think sticky toffee Christmas pud!

Hazel, 71

Former nail technician Hazel loves to share her bakes with her large family - four children, and ten grandchildren - who all live close by and love to get together for big occasions. Hazel keeps things creative with her bakes, often adding working parts such as ‘car’ cakes with remote-controlled wheels or a particular favourite in the form of a carousel with 500 edible diamonds. Outside of the kitchen, you’ll often find Hazel playing bingo.

Illiyin, 31

Growing up in London, Illiyin has always been a part of a large household. One of eight siblings, she would often help her mum with the baking, learning plenty of tips and tricks along the way. Now, she lives in Norfolk with her extended family, and works as a midwife. Her bakes are inspired by a myriad of cuisines and cultures, often featuring Middle Eastern or Caribbean flavours. Illiyin’s skills aren’t confined to baking though, she is also a published author.

Jeff, 67

Originally hailing from New York, Jeff now lives in Yorkshire, with his wife, where he’s been for the past 30 years. He began to bake when his children were little, remembering the basics that he was taught as a child from his grandmother and great-grandmother. Having always been a bit of a competitive sportsman, Jeff may not play basketball anymore, but he loves swimming, going to the gym and long countryside walks.

John, 37

West-Midlands born and raised, John has had a number of careers before finding his calling in the NHS where he works as a directorate support manager. After a hectic day at work, he loves to relax at home with his dog, Stanley. He takes inspiration from memories of baking with his nan, and is now on a mission to pass down everything she taught him to his younger nephews. John describes his baking style as classic, but with a twist, and loves to experiment with bold flavours.

Mike, 29

Growing up and working on his family farm, Mike is a fourth-generation farmer who was shortlisted for Young Farmer of the Year at the 2024 National Arable and Grassland Awards. Mike would describe his baking style as ‘hearty and wholesome’ and tends to focus on larger bakes that can feed his big family. He tends to use seasonal fruits and flowers from his own garden and farm in all his bakes. In preparation for his upcoming wedding, Mike is growing all the flowers and planning to bake the cake.

Nelly, 44

Nelly is a palliative care assistant from Dorset, who draws inspiration from her Slovakian heritage, and her husband’s Pakistani roots, in her baking. She learnt to bake bread from her dad, but it wasn't until later life that she began to experiment with sweet bakes, teaching herself everything that she knows. When she has a free moment, Nelly loves to continue her creativity with jewellery making, and is also a big fan of true crime.

Sumayah, 19

The youngest contestant of this year’s cohort, Sumayah is currently on her gap year in anticipation of going to study Dentistry. She fell in love with baking when she made a one-metre tall macaron tower for her aunt’s wedding celebration. With a flair for being creative, Sumayah loves to make her own clothes as well as being a keen photographer. As you might have guessed, her bakes are very creative, and will often contain an eclectic list of ingredients and flavours.

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.

When is The Great British Bake Off final?

The official date for The Great British Bake Off final has yet to be announced by Channel 4, but it is likely to air at the end of November, as this is when the 2023 final aired. 

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 2024 final have yet to be revealed, but you can expect a series of challenges that will push the bakers to their limits. 

Who's the favourite to win The Great British Bake Off 2024?

We'll know more about the potential The Great British Bake Off 2024 winner once the competition has begun.

Where can I watch The Great British Bake Off 2024 on?

GBBO originally aired on the BBC, but was controversially sold to a new channel in 2016. The 2024 series will be the eighth 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 have been judging the show together ever since and are both set to return for this new season. 

Who are the Great British Bake Off hosts? 

The Great British Bake Off 2024 will retain its hosts for the 15th series. Noel Fielding will be returning for his sixth year on the show, whilst This Morning star Alison Hammond will return for her second season after replacing Matt Lucas back in 2023.

Who won Great British Bake Off 2023?

The winner of The Great British Bake Off 2023 was 28-year-old Matty Edgell, who competed alongside finalists Dan Hunter and Josh Smalley.

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!

Prefer buying your sweet treats to making them yourself? Check out the best bakeries in London.