Ready your rolling pins, hide your soggy bottoms and prepare for approximately 10 straight weeks of shouting "IT'S RAW IN THE MIDDLE!" at your TV, because The Great British Bake Off is back every Tuesday night at 8pm on Channel 4. And this year, things are looking a little different in the famous white tent!
There's a brand-new judge, a fresh batch of bakers, a new twist for the competition and, naturally, enough butter to single-handedly keep the dairy industry afloat.
Here's everything we know so far…
Contestants | Judges | Hosts | Trailer
Who are the Bake Off 2026 contestants?
We've got a seriously tasty line-up entering the famous white tent this year. From a law student and a paediatric doctor to a hairdresser, an NHS hero and even a drag king, Bake Off 2026 is serving up plenty of personality alongside the pastries. And let's be honest, half the fun of Bake Off is becoming emotionally invested in complete strangers while they desperately try to stop a buttercream from sliding off a cake.
Here is everything you need to know about this year's bakers and who is left in the competition!
Connie, 63
Occupation: NHS Discharge Lead
From: London
Known affectionately as "the cake lady", Connie uses baking to unwind after busy days working in the NHS. With years of life experience and a cool head under pressure, Connie could prove to be one of the tent's steadiest bakers. We wouldn't be surprised if she's the contestant everyone runs to when their caramel starts misbehaving.
After all, if you can handle the pressures of the NHS, a collapsing cake is probably isn't going to ruffle too many feathers!
Clara, 24
Occupation: Marketing Graduate
From: Hertfordshire
Originally from Portugal, Clara now lives in Hertfordshire after recently graduating from university. What's most impressive is that she's only been baking for two years. You'd never know it from the beautiful Portuguese-inspired treats she creates for her fiancé, Kieran.
If her pastel de natas are anything to go by, the competition should be very, very nervous.
Moyin, 22
Occupation: Political Economy Student
From: Essex
Moyin is a student, baker and talented athlete, boasting an impressive 100m sprint time of 10.76 seconds. Inspired by his Nigerian heritage, he's been baking with his mum since he was five years old and loves bringing those flavours into his creations.
Gabe, 32
Occupation: Artist and Drag King
From: West Midlands
Artist by day and drag king by night, Gabe is bringing creativity, flair and plenty of personality to the tent. With a background in performance and visual art, we have a feeling Gabe's showstoppers could be among the most imaginative of the series.
Bake Off loves a contestant who thinks outside the cake tin, and Gabe looks more than ready to rise to the occasion.
Gary, 67
Occupation: Retired Garment Technologist
From: Hertfordshire
Gary may be this year's oldest baker, but he's proof that it's never too late to discover a new passion. Incredibly, he only started baking five years ago after buying a cookbook. Since then, he's developed a love of traditional baking and citrus flavours.
Could he be this year's surprise package? We've seen less experienced bakers go all the way before. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
Mo, 21
Occupation: Law Student
From: West Midlands
At just 21, Mo is the youngest baker in the competition. His baking journey began when he was only three years old and has evolved from simple cake mixes into beautifully polished creations that often combine Asian flavours with British baking traditions.
Studying law and producing professional-looking cakes? That's an intimidating level of overachievement, if you ask us.
Tom, 25
Occupation: Hairdresser
From: West Yorkshire
Tom learned to bake with his nan while his brother was out playing football and has never looked back. These days, he loves creating bakes that are as beautiful as they are delicious, with salted caramel brownies among his specialities.
And if we know one thing about new judge Nigella Lawson, it's that indulgent, gooey, caramel-loaded bakes rarely go unnoticed.
Yannis, 28
Occupation: Paediatric Doctor
From: London
Yannis is determined to challenge stereotypes and show that Bangladeshi men absolutely belong in the kitchen. Having grown up in Vienna before moving to London aged 11, he says that watching Bake Off actually helped him learn English, making his place in the tent feel wonderfully full circle.
Working in neonatal intensive care means he understands pressure better than most, which could make him one of the coolest heads in the competition when pastry week inevitably causes nationwide panic.
And if anyone can remain calm while staring down a collapsing tart on national television, our money's on the doctor.
Who has left Bake Off 2026 so far?
Nikki, 50
Left: Week 4
Occupation: Advertising Post-Producer
From: London
Nikki lives in London with her partner of 22 years, Tom, and their daughter Ava. She describes baking as her therapy and loves spending time in the kitchen with a soundtrack of classic R&B playing in the background.
Sadly, Nikki has to leave the show suddenly and unexpectedly to be with her mother who fell ill.
Molly, 31
Left: Week 4
Occupation: Accessibility Coordinator
From: London
Molly first discovered her love of baking at the age of six before reconnecting with the hobby in 2020. She says baking has helped her stay motivated and maintain connections with the people she loves, making it far more than just a pastime.
Molly became the third person to be eliminated form The Greta British Bake Off 2026 at the end of bread week.
Shannon, 29
Left: Week 3
Occupation: Project Planner and Scheduler
From: Gloucestershire
Shannon has been baking for as long as she can remember after learning from her nan. She particularly enjoys baking with ingredients she's grown herself, bringing a homegrown touch to many of her creations.
Given that her day job revolves around planning and schedules, we're guessing she's not the baker who suddenly remembers the oven was never switched on with two minutes to go.
Shannon unfortunately was told in week 3 she would be leaving by Alison Hammond. (But she did get a cheeky Paul Hollywood handshake on her way out the door!)
Danni
Left: Week 2
Occupation: HGV Service Centre Administrator
From: Dorset
Danni left the competition during biscuit week after being told her biscuits were too powdery.
Is Nigella Lawson replacing Prue Leith?
In one of the biggest TV shake-ups of the year, Nigella Lawson has officially replaced Dame Prue Leith as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
Prue announced in January that she was stepping away from the competition after nine years, explaining that at 86, she wanted to slow down and spend more time enjoying life away from the tent. But if anyone can fill those famously stylish shoes, it's Nigella.
Alongside Nigella, Paul returns for yet another year of blue steel stares, handshake hysteria and impossibly high pastry standards!
Who are the hosts of Bake Off 2026?
Thankfully, the nation's favourite chaotic duo Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are both returning. Alison has quickly become one of the most-loved presenters in the show's history, while Noel remains Bake Off's resident king of surreal one-liners and wonderfully unhelpful encouragement.
What's new in Bake Off 2026?
Alongside Nigella's arrival, Bake Off is introducing a major new twist called Audience Choice Week. Viewers will be able to submit ideas that help shape the challenges in a special themed episode. It's one of the biggest format changes the show has introduced in years and could lead to some brilliantly chaotic creations! After all, asking the public for baking ideas has never gone wrong before...
Is there a trailer for The Great British Bake Off?
Yes! Channel 4 has officially released the first teasers for the new series, with returning host Alison Hammond announcing: "The Bake Is Back!" while new judge Nigella Lawson makes her long-awaited tent debut. The trailer doesn't reveal much about the bakers themselves just yet, but it does give fans their first glimpse of Bake Off's new dream team lineup. And honestly, seeing Nigella stroll into the tent feels like someone added an extra layer of buttercream to an already perfect cake.
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Where can you watch The Great British Bake Off?
The Great British Bake Off 2026 will air on Channel 4 and will also be available to stream after broadcast.
So, dust off your apron, stock up on flour and prepare for another autumn of collapsed cakes, Hollywood handshakes and enough double entendre to fill an industrial-sized mixing bowl. On your marks. Get set. Bakeeee.
And if you also happen to be in the market for a small TV to fit into your kitchen so you can bake alongside the bakers then we've got youuu! Or if you're just here for the latest TV recommendations, then why not find out the latest line-up announcement for Strictly Come Dancing 2026!
