Great British Bake Off: Amateur bakers who will fight for Nadiya's crown revealed

Rav, Tom, Kate, Lee, Val, Candice, Benjamina , Michael, Selasi, Jane, Andrew and Louise - the contestants for this year's Great British Bake Off. Picture: BBC

The stay-at-home mum, who lived in Leeds when she appeared in last year’s series, has reached heights of fame since winning the highly sought after title, and this year’s series, which starts on August 24, could again see a Yorkshire winner.

Former headteacher Val, 66, who is originally from Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, but now lives near Yeovil in Somerset says she can make the classics with her eyes closed, and is so confident she likes to do aerobics in her kitchen while waiting for her jams to boil.

She will fight it out against a pastor, a PE teacher and an aerospace engineer, among others, as they seek to earn the approval of judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

Val, who is orginally from South Yorkshire.
Picture: BBC — Val, who is orginally from South Yorkshire. Picture: BBC

“Nadiya went to a whole new level, and because of that I think it put the pressure on them more, and I think we felt that in the tents as well,” Hollywood said.

“But actually they came out tops. They started quite nervously but once they settled down they got into it. Then the baking started to flow and the standard got really, really good.”

Berry, 81, said this year’s contestants had not immediately become friends.

She said: “They know the standard that it is, which is now pretty high. And I think they were slower to bond this year than they were in the past.”

Louise in action.
Picture: BBC — Louise in action. Picture: BBC

Andrew, 25, will swap jet engines for jellies and jam doughnuts. Originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in Derby and works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls-Royce.

The oldest contestant in this year’s line-up will be Lee, a 67-year-old who has worked in various pastoral ministries for the past 30 years - most recently as the pastor of his local church in Bolton.

A former builder, he had a complete change of direction in the mid 1980s, when he turned to theology and took up baking - embracing traditional flavours such as vanilla and chocolate.

One contestant, Jane, will draw on a long family tradition of baking when she presents her creations to Hollywood and Berry.

Presenter Mel Giedroyc talking to Rav. Picture: BBC

The 61-year-old garden designer’s grandfather owned a bakery in Hastings, and as a child she watched her father pipe and ice the cakes.

Tom, 26, has managed to shed 30 kg despite his passion for baking. He believes in “moderation” and works for The Royal Society of Arts in London.

Also heading to the tent is this year’s youngest contestant Michael, a 20-year-old from London who is studying politics and economics in Durham.

Despite living in student digs, he enjoys making “big grand cakes” and making Greek pastries inspired by his Cypriot heritage.

Lee in the tent.
Picture: BBC — Lee in the tent. Picture: BBC

The teaching profession will be well-represented, with Val, 23-year-old teaching assistant Benjamina and 31-year-old secondary school PE teacher Candice all showing off their baking skills.

Also joining them in the Bake Off tent will be 46-year-old Welsh hairdresser Louise, 37-year-old nurse Kate from Norfolk, 30-year-old Ghanaian Selasi, who works as a client service associate in a financial institution, and 28-year-old Rav, who helps to support students at City University London.

Bake Off presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will return for more innuendo-laden patter.

:: The Great British Bake Off launches on August 24 on BBC One at 8pm.