When Does Great British Bake Off Start 2025?
To answer with no fuss: The Great British Bake Off 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, 2nd September at 8pm on Channel 4.
The announcement dropped just yesterday, and social media’s already melting down (unlike my last pastry base). For me, September always means autumn sneaking in—leaves, cardigans, and an irrational craving for Victoria sponge. There’s something reassuring about the Bake Off slot: Tuesday, back in the tent, hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding with their offbeat banter, and the judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith ready to deliver both warmth and eyebrow-raising criticism. It feels like the UK’s official passport to cozy season. You can almost smell the cinnamon.
If you’re one of those people who sets reminders for TV premieres, circle the date, prep your snacks, maybe charge your group chats for live reactions. The grand final is slated for November 4, so mark the calendar for a solid two months of weekly bakey escapism.
True confession: my first group Bake Off viewing involved burnt popcorn, an inedible attempt at Swiss roll, and six people loudly debating whether Paul Hollywood’s judging face is a threat or a promise. But honestly? It’s these simple rituals—shared evenings, half-successful recipes—that make Bake Off’s return so genuinely look-forward-to.
The Great British Bake Off 2025 Contestants List
Here’s the 2025 line-up: 12 amateur bakers. Some are scientists; some are hairdressers. There’s an ex-powerlifter and this year’s first drag king. If history’s any guide, at least one contestant will accidentally use salt instead of sugar by week two. Each brings a different flavor (metaphorically and, sometimes, literally).
Let’s meet the bakers (with a few lived-in, small digressions):
Aaron (38, London, Senior Systems Architect)
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Aaron blends French patisserie with the Caribbean flavors of his childhood. He’s lately been experimenting with Asian ingredients—think miso and yuzu—pushing boundaries in mono-portion bakes.
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A bit of trivia: Aaron lives with his boyfriend and once tried to bake a Sachertorte for his nephew. It didn’t set, but the frosting covered a multitude of sins. We’ve all been there.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-yoLu1Xb/
Hassan (30, South Yorkshire, Analytical Research & Development Scientist)
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Hassan’s a scientist both at work and in the kitchen. He’s methodical, researching recipes meticulously, but gives himself space to improvise with sweet treats inspired by his Pakistani heritage. Pralines and nutty pastries are his comfort zone.
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Once, he replaced pecans with almonds in a baklava for a family gathering—controversial, but weirdly delicious. He’s all about calculated risks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-v_OxZVj/
Iain (29, Belfast, Software Engineer)
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A former amateur powerlifter, Iain’s lifting dough these days instead of weights. He’s famous in his local music scene for decorating sourdough crusts with album cover art. Seriously, the “Yeastie Boy” is a real thing: if you see Pink Floyd’s prism on a boule, you’ll know who baked it.
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Legend has it, he once used fermented beetroot in bread and had his mates guessing flavors for hours. I love this—weird, unexpected fun!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-sd_smXc/
Jasmine (23, London, Medical Student)
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Jasmine grew up batch baking for huge family get-togethers in the Scottish Highlands. She’s all about classic flavors, fresh ingredients, and letting bread “do what bread wants” (her words, not mine).
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Her flatmates swear by her walnut cake—though, allegedly, not her first attempt at eclairs. We’ve all faced the dreaded split choux.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-nkfMeBg/
Jessika (32, London, Service Designer & Drag King)
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Jessika’s a force of nature: gymnast, roller-skater, and the show’s first drag king contestant. Her bakes are as bold as her hobbies, experimenting with combos like salted mango caramel and Jerusalem artichoke mousse.
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She balances baking with backflips. In Cornwall, she and her sister used to buy corner-shop cakes after dance class—a sweet tooth origin story if ever there was one.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-jbLNqba/
Tom (31, London, Creative Entrepreneur)
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Tom brings style, heart, and quite a bit of family tradition. A member of two queer sports teams, Tom grew up baking with his Danish granny and his mum—and now he’s all about wild flavor fusions.
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One of Tom’s experiments involved smoked sea salt brownies and wild-foraged mushrooms. It was divisive, but that’s Bake Off: not every risk pans out, but you remember the ones that do.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-IzC0C_i/
Leighton (59, Surrey, Software Delivery Manager )
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Leighton is 59 years old and lives in Surrey. He works as a Software Delivery Manager. Leighton grew up in Swansea, Wales, and feels proud of his Welsh roots. When he was young, he played the organ at his local church.
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Even when people said “boys don’t bake,” Leighton didn’t listen. He always did what he wanted and learned to love baking. Now, he lives in Surrey with his husband Eric, who is from California, and their Irish Terrier dog named Cilla.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-gBxtqlf/
Lesley (59, Kent, Hairdresser)
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Lesley is 59 years old and lives in Kent. She is a hairdresser and has been cutting hair for 45 years. People who come to her salon always look forward to having a tasty slice of cake when they get their hair done.
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Lesley has loved baking since she was 10 years old. She learned from her Nanny Mable and Auntie Joan, who showed her how to bake and helped her find her passion for it. Lesley enjoys making classic cakes but adds her own modern and fun style to them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-ctx0SWp/
Nadia (41, Liverpool, Hairdresser)
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Nadia is 41 years old and lives in Liverpool. She works as a hairdresser. Nadia mixes Indian and Italian flavors in her baking, and she adds her own cheerful “Scouse” (Liverpool) energy to everything she does.
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Her dad is an Italian chef, and he’s her main inspiration for baking. Nadia likes making simple, homemade treats that taste amazing and have a lot of heart.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-ZF9ssi7/
Nataliia (32, London, Office Assistant from Ukraine)
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Nataliia loves traditional Eastern European recipes, especially those using poppy seeds and sour cherries. Pastries from her childhood inspire her, but she’s eager to learn more British techniques.
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She once made pirozhki for her colleagues after a snow day. They didn’t all survive the commute, but the ones that did were legendary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-Ra3gPHd/
Pui Man (51, Essex, Bridal Designer)
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As a bridal designer, Pui Man knows presentation is everything—and it shows in her immaculate piping work. Her goal: show-stopper cakes worthy of the Bake Off crown.
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One of her best bakes was a hand-painted celebration cake for a client’s daughter—so pretty it almost didn’t get sliced. Almost.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-OUktK1o/
Toby ( 29, Warwickshire, Business Development Executive)
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Toby is 29 years old and lives in Warwickshire. He works as a Business Development Executive. Toby lives with his girlfriend, Syd, and their rescue dog, Bex.
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He has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and after tough training, Toby and his training partner enjoy eating his homemade strawberry cheesecake.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNh-Lcwsy0L/
