Whether you watch it for the camaraderie between competitors, Mel and Sue’s innuendo-laden commentary, Paul’s steely gaze or just like looking at massive, over the top cakes, it’s safe to say that The Great British Bake Off has gained national treasure status. The seventh series begins on 24 August, filling the following ten weeks with the highs and lows of baking for the likes of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry. Last year’s winner Nadiya Hussain took home the trophy in front of 15 million viewers, and the seventh series is set to be even bigger.
Mary herself has said fewer people applied this year as the standard was so high in 2015 – but that just means the twelve contestants will be creating bakes that are better than ever. With the youngest contender just twenty years old and the oldest sixty-seven, the show yet again offers a complete slice of British society and proves that if anything can bring everyone together, it's cake.
Here’s this year’s line-up: