20:37, 07 Sep 2026Updated 20:50, 07 Sep 2026<\/p>\n
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The Great British Bake Off Series 17 contestant Shannon, from Bristol(Image: Channel 4\/Love Productions\/Patch Dolan)<\/p>\n
A local project planner is among the cast joining the tent for series 17 of the Great British Bake Off. The hit Channel 4 baking show is set to return to screens later this month with a brand new cast of 12 amateur bakers who will be put to the test in a bid to be crowned the 2026 champion.<\/p>\n
The bakers will be judged by TV cook Nigella Lawson, who was announced earlier this year as a new judge on the programme, after Dame Prue Leith said she was stepping down after nine series.<\/p>\n
TV cook Paul Hollywood will also return as a judge along with Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond as the series\u2019 presenters.<\/p>\n
The new series will also see project planner Shannon, 29, join the tent. Shannon grew up in Bristol but now lives in the Gloucestershire countryside and is passionate about bringing \u201ca little forest magic\u201d into her bakes. She is a nature-loving foodie who loves to cook with ingredients she has grown herself, describing her style as \u201cwhimsical, quirky and rustic\u201d.<\/p>\n
Other bakers joining the series is 32-year-old artist and drag king, Gabe from Grimsby who alongside producing theatre shows, performs as their drag persona Blue Romantic.<\/p>\n
Gabe currently lives in the West Midlands with their partners, Ellis and Tyler and their two sausage dogs Dill and Sage.<\/p>\n
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The Great British Bake Off Series 17 contestants (left to right) Gabe, Nikki, Shannon, Danni, Mo, Clara, Tom, Molly, Yannis, Gary, Moyin, and Connie(Image: Channel 4\/Love Productions\/Patch Dolan)<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cI have watched every season of Bake Off and walking into the tent was unreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like I was walking into a national legacy and fever dream combined. Truly such an honour. A \u2018pinch me\u2019 moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalming my nerves while doing a shot of tequila with Nigella may have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
They are joined by 28-year-old paediatric doctor Yannis, who said stepping into the tent felt like \u201cwalking into my TV screen\u201d.<\/p>\n
Baking for Lawson was an \u201cincredibly special\u201d moment for the doctor who said he had received one of her recipe books while at University and cited her books as being part of what made him \u201cfall deeper in love with baking\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever in a million years did I imagine that a few years later I\u2019d be standing in the Bake O\ufb00 tent, having her judge my bakes and to tell her just how much she\u2019d inspired me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a real full-circle moment!\u201d<\/p>\n
Describing her fellow bakers, Nikki, 50, an advertising post-producer from London said they were \u201cwild, hilarious and incredibly kind\u201d adding that the series was a \u201cheart-warming\u201d and \u201conce-in-a-lifetime\u201d adventure.<\/p>\n
The 17th series will also feature 31-year-old accessibility coordinator Molly from London, student Moyin, 22, from Essex and retired garment technologist Gary, 67, from Chesterfield who discovered his love of baking later in life after buying his first cookbook five years ago.<\/p>\n
He said he felt emotional and in \u201cdisbelief\u201d when he found out that he got a spot on Bake Off, adding that it took him \u201ca few days to believe I actually got picked\u201d.<\/p>\n