Bake Off 2025 line-up revealed

Channel 4 reveals this season's contestants for The Great British Bake Off, including a bridal designer and a medical student.

Bake Off 2025 line-up features bridal designer and medical student

The Great British Bake Off returns for series 16 on Channel 4 this autumn, with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith back at the judging table. Leith is back after a stint away from the celebrity spin-off, and at 85 she remains a steady presence in the tent. Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are also returning as the show restarts its familiar mix of warmth, humor and competition.

The lineup spans a wide range of backgrounds. Aaron, 38, is a Senior Systems Architect; Hassan, 30, Analytical Research & Development Scientist; Iain, 29, Software Engineer; Jasmine, 23, Medical Student; Jessika, 32, Service Designer; Leighton, 59, Software Delivery Manager; Lesley, 59, Hairdresser; Nadia, 41, Hairdresser; Nataliia, 32, Office Assistant; Pui Man, 51, Bridal Designer; Toby, 29, Business Development Executive; Tom, 31, Creative Entrepreneur. The bakers blend science, design and culture into their bakes, from fusion ingredients to seasonal twists, reflecting the show’s evolving palate. The season begins on Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm on Channel 4.

The cast reads like a social snapshot of modern Britain: professionals from science, medicine, design and tech bring new textures to a format built on traditional accuracy and timing. The presence of a medical student and a bridal designer signals a broader appeal beyond baking hobbyists, while Tom’s queer identity and Leighton’s self-proclaimed defiance of gendered expectations add subtle currents of inclusivity. This is not just about recipes; it is about storytelling through food and craft.

At a time when audiences crave both comfort and novelty, Bake Off leans into diverse backgrounds without losing its core: warmth, humor and a fair level of healthy competition. The return of Prue Leith alongside Paul Hollywood preserves the show’s familiar chemistry, even as contestants bring experimental flavors and personal histories to the tent. The real test will be whether the line-up translates into fresh tension without sidelining the show’s signature humanity.

Highlights

The tent opens again this autumn, inviting both comfort and new challenges.