THE GREAT British Bake Off is ready to rise again as a fresh batch of amateur bakers prepares to enter Britain’s most famous tent.
The baking competition returns for series 17 later this month, with 12 contestants hoping to impress Paul Hollywood and new judging partner Nigella Lawson.
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When does Great British Bake Off 2026 start?
The Great British Bake Off returns at 8pm on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 22.
On September 7, the date was confirmed on the show’s official Instagram account with a post telling fans: “A little date for your diary… Bake Off is back.”
Following the premiere, the culinary competition will air once a week in the same slot – Tuesdays at 8pm.
A new companion show, Second Helpings, hosted by Jon Richardson and Judi Love, will also air weekly on the same night, though the exact time hasn’t been announced yet.
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Who are the Great British Bake Off 2026 contestants?
Channel 4 unveiled all 12 of this year’s bakers on September 8.
The group ranges from 21-year-old law student Mo to retired garment technologist Gary, 67.
Also among them are NHS worker Connie, known as “the Cake Lady”, artist and drag king Gabe, and paediatric doctor Yannis.
The full Bake Off 2026 cast is as follows:
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- Clara, 24 – marketing graduate from Hertfordshire
- Connie, 63 – NHS hospital discharge lead from London
- Danni, 25 – HGV service centre administrator from Dorset
- Gabe, 32 – artist and drag king from the West Midlands
- Gary, 67 – retired garment technologist from Nottinghamshire
- Molly, 31 – accessibility coordinator from London
- Moyin, 22 – political economy student from Essex
- Mo, 21 – law student from the West Midlands
- Nikki, 50 – advertising post-producer from London
- Shannon, 29 – project planner and scheduler from Gloucestershire
- Tom, 25 – hairdresser from West Yorkshire
- Yannis, 28 – paediatric doctor from London
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Who are the Bake Off 2026 judges and presenters?
Paul Hollywood returns to the judging table alongside new arrival Nigella Lawson.
Nigella was announced in January as the replacement for Prue Leith, who decided to leave after nine series and more than 400 challenges.
The TV cook admitted it was “daunting” to follow Prue and original judge Dame Mary Berry, but said she was “bubbling with excitement”.
She added: “The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it.”
Paul has judged every main series since Bake Off launched in 2010.
Meanwhile, Alison Hammond returns for her fourth series as a presenter after joining in 2023.
She will once again host alongside Noel Fielding, who has been part of the show since its move to Channel 4 in 2017.