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Bakers, ready, set… and go! The Great British Bake Off is back with more sweet treats, candied innuendos and a cast showcasing the very best of amateur baking.
The tail end of summer is in the air, Prue Leith is back as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood, and Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are ready to guide us through the choppy waters of competitive baking, where flat cakes and salty icing spell utter disaster.
As we enter season 16 of the Channel 4 show, the recipe for success has been nearly perfected, with viewers ready to dig their teeth into a Signature, Technical and Showstopping challenge culminating in a star baker being crowned each week.
Former contestants have gone on to present their own shows, release their own cookery books and gain hundreds of thousands of devoted social media followers.
Last year saw the winner Georgie Grasso hoist up the trophy, with the new contestants no doubt hoping to follow in her footsteps.
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So, without further ado, here’s who’s gracing our screens for The Great British Bake Off season 16.
Great British Bake Off 2025 contestants
Aaron, 38
This Senior Systems Architect made the move from Manchester to London with his boyfriend two years ago – and now he’s ready for his next adventure.
He is described as ‘a passionate baker who fuses French patisserie with Caribbean flair and his talents don’t end there.
When not cooking up a treat, he is sewing and making his own liqueurs such as amaretto and limoncello – and even teaching himself French.
Hassan, 30
This Chemistry graduate hails from South Yorkshire, where he lives with his mum.
During the day, he works for the pharmaceutical industry, but at home, he dons the apron to try his hand at new recipes.
As for what he’s bringing to the table, ‘with a love for sweet treats inspired by his Pakistani heritage, he’s especially fond of praline and nut-based flavours that echo traditional Asian sweets.’
Iain, 29
Iain is a Belfast-based software engineer who has swapped powerlifting for dough-kneading.
‘The self-proclaimed “Yeastie Boy” mixes his love of live music with sourdough, immortalising album cover art on the crusts of his loaves’ for the ultimate aritistic fusion.
And for those who remember the last Iain from Belfast’s famously binned Baked Alaska, this one is hoping to reclaim the name and the narrative!
Jasmine, 23
Medical student Jasmine learnt ‘the basics of breads and cakes’ from her Mum and aunts, with the whole family getting involved during holidays in the Scottish Highlands.
She uses baking as her creative outlet, using fresh, seasonal ingredients to bring her food to life.
As for her downtime, you’ll likely catch her sea swimming, running half marathons or playing hockey for her university team.
Jessika, 32
As a gymnastic, roller-skating Drag King, Jessika knows all about innovation in and out of the kitchen.
Raised in Cornwall on corner shop cakes, nowadays Jessika’s signature flavour profile infuses daring flavours like salted mango caramel and cardamom.
She shared that she’s ‘dreamed about [doing the show] for years but never truly believed it would happen’ but as they say, the third time’s the charm.
Leighton, 59
Software Delivery Manager Leighton’s ethos in life is ‘anything can be done with a formula’.
Now living in Surrey with his Californian husband Eric and Irish Terrier, Cilla,baking remains an important part of his life.
As for what he loves to whip together, he revealed he ‘loves experimenting with different recipes, but for my cakes, I always come back to the classics’.
Lesley, 59
As a hairdresser of 45 years, Lesley’s loyal clients in Kent have come to expect a baked good alongside their swish new look.
She is hoping to make it a family trade, joking she has ‘high hopes for her Granddaughter Mabel, who she expects to be able to do a curly blow-dry and bake a batch of cookies by the time she is 5.’
As for making it to the famed white tent, she described it as though she was ‘in a dream and I would wake up at any moment’
Nadia, 41
Also a hairdresser, Liverpudlian Nadia hopes she can ‘blend Indian and Italian flavours with Scouse spirit’, especially paying homage to her Italian chef dad.
Nadia lives with her partner Daniel and daughters Rosa-Bella and Maria ‘where Sundays are sacred “feast days,” filled with homemade pasta, roasts, and always a pud.’
She loves a novelty cake with heart, heritage and joy baked into the middle.
Nataliia, 32
Now in East Yorkshire, Nataliia learnt to bake from her grandmother in Ukraine with traditional recipes passed down over generations.
Moving to the UK four years ago before war broke out, she shares a three-year-old daughter with her husband and is an economics graduate with an ‘artistic streak’.
She infuses ‘flavours inspired by her roots such as honey, poppy seeds and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon’ into her classic British bakes.
Pui Man, 51
As a bridal designer from Essex, Pui Man knows everything about making sure every last detail is absolutely perfect.
After rediscovering her love for baking during lockdown, she now has her eye on turning Paul’s Hollywood handshake into a hug with her impressive bakes.
Living with her husband and two children, she volunteers three nights a week, distributing surplus supermarket food to the local community.
Toby, 29
After growing up in the seaside town of Sidmouth, Toby now lives in Warwickshire as a Business Development Executive.
He has a blue belt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and makes sure to bring plenty of strawberry cheesecake to the training sessions to refuel.
He loves a classic bake, but it’s bread where his real passion lies. ‘Think carrot cake, cinnamon buns and mountains of homemade sourdough loaves,’ he explained.
Tom, 31
Last, but certainly not least, is creative entrepreneur Tom, who learnt to bake from his mum and Danish grandma.
It’s not been all plain sailing because, as a teen, Tom feared his secret love of baking would out him. ‘Now a member of two queer sports teams and with a boyfriend of three years, the game may be up,’ he joked.
Food is his ‘first love’ and he’s ready to bring his all to the tent.
When time is The Great British Bake Off 2025 on?
The Great British Bake Off starts on Tuesday, September 2, at 8pm on Channel 4, with new episodes every Tuesday.
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