Andy has been baking since he was a child and now wants to take his baking prowess to the next level. In between seeing the world with partner Nicki in their motorhome, Andy is also hoping to inspire his daughter, Maisie, to follow in his footsteps as a baker.
Christiaan age: 33 from: The Netherlands job: menswear designer
Christiaan studied fashion in Amsterdam before moving to the UK to pursue his career seven years ago. His eye for fashion has definitely inspired his baking with every confection having a little creative flair. When he's not baking, he loves soaking up the atmosphere in London galleries and museums.
Dylan, who recently completed a gap year travelling around Southeast Asia, loves nothing more than immersing himself in various cultures. With an Indian mother and Japanese-Belgian father, Dylan's work is inspired by Japanese bakes and the work of French pâtissérie chefs.
A self-proclaimed cannoli connoisseur, Georgie has her Italian roots to thank for her adoration of baking. She's also a keen forager and, along with her husband and three children, shares her Welsh farmhouse with 10 chickens, two ducks, two dogs, and a cat.
Gill's love of baking is innate - in fact, she can't remember a time when she wasn't baking. In memory of her dad, Gill used her superpower for good: raising money via her baking for an Alzheimer's charity. In 1993, she was also the UK's youngest driving instructor, aged 21.
Hazel age: 71 from: Kent job: former nail technician
Hazel has become the highlight of family gatherings with her innovative creations. She's made numerous car cakes with working lights and remote control wheels and also made a carousel birthday cake with 500 edible diamonds. When she isn't wowing her family with her baking, Hazel enjoys bingo.
A qualified midwife and published author, Illiyn likes to incorporate numerous cultures into her baking, including Caribbean-inspired savoury bakes and sweet treats using Middle Eastern ingredients like rose and mint. She also freelances as a midwife.
Jeff age: 67 from: New York job: former university lecturer
Now living in West Yorkshire, Jeff was raised in the Bronx in New York. A keen basketball player and swimmer, he touched down in the UK in 1979. He learned about baking from his grandmother and Hungarian great-grandmother.
John age: 37 from: West Midlands job: directorate support manager
John has had quite the career journey, having had experience as both a hairdresser and estate agent, but the NHS was where he really found his groove. John learned everything he knows about baking from his nan, and when he isn't honing his skillset in the kitchen, he's teaching his nephews everything they need to know about baking, too. Some of his favourite bakes include fairy cakes, pies, and lemon tarts.
Mike age: 29 from: Wiltshire job: farm manager
A fourth-generation farmer, Mike works at his family farm with his sister and parents. He was shortlisted for Young Farmer of the Year at the 2024 National Arable and Grassland Awards and was an ambassador for the National Farmers' Union in 2022. In his baking, he's a big fan of incorporating freshly-grown fruit and edible flowers.
Nelly age: 44 from: Slovakia job: palliative care assistant
Now based in Dorset, Nelly was born in Slovakia before moving to Austria to study nursing. Her love for baking all started when she was inspired to try her neighbour's gingerbread recipe - and the rest, as they say, is history. The self-taught baker loves incorporating flavours not just from her Slovakian culture, but also her husband's Pakistani heritage.
Ahead of studying dentistry at university next year, Sumayah decided to opt for a low-key, relaxed gap year. Just kidding - the self-taught baker has decided to spend her break in the Bake Off tent, improving her baking prowess. Outside of baking, she is a keen sewer, and even makes her own clothes.
15x3: Bread Week It is Bread Week and the bakers take on a savoury challenge, and they must follow along as `Breadfather' Paul Hollywood demonstrates the bake. The bakers create horns of plenty and fill them with delectable delights.
Andy - buns with cheddar, chive, and chopped salami stick Christiaan - plaited buns with mushroom infused dough, hazelnut cheddar sage truffle oil pesto, and porcini mushrooms Dylan - gochujang buns with garlic confit (Hollywood handshake) Georgie - Italian chelsea buns with garlic pesto, sundried tomatoes, and mozzarella (first ever Paul pat) Gill - chelsea buns with black pudding, chorizo, goat cheese, crumbled bacon, and mustard custard Illiyin - Jamaican coco buns with coconut milk, Jamaican brown stew chicken, crispy chicken skin John - Greek inspired buns with oregano dough, oregano garlic pesto, caramelised red onions, and feta Mike - buns with soy sauce lamb mince, onions, carrots, rosemary, mint, and sesame seeds Nelly - Slovakian milk bread with vegetable curry filling and coriander chili chutney Sumayah - sunflowers with milk bread and spiced chicken curry filling
technical challenge: 7 strand plaited wreath * directions for the plait were not provided but Paul demonstrated how to plait the bread and create a wreath * rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 - Nelly 2 - Sumayah 3 - Andy 4 - Illiyin 5 - Gill 6 - Mike 7 - Georgie 8 - Christiian 9 - John 10 - Dylan
showstopper challenge: horn of plenty display with two different breads who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Andy - New York cornucopia with pizza buns, cinnamon pretzels, rosemary and olive focaccia muffins Christiaan - earl grey infused cornucopia with caramelised garlic and stilton orchids, strawberry & cardamom jam Dutch sugar bun roses Dylan - striped cat cornucopia with amaretto crème brûlée donuts, maple bacon cinnamon knots, country loaf, whipped bone marrow Georgie - rosemary cornucopia with pumpkin pecan rolls, chocolate hazelnut babka, tahini swirls Gill - Devonshire holiday cornucopia with onion & bacon plaits, beer bread mini loaves, strawberries & cream Devonshire splits Illiyin - braided cornucopia with feta parsley harissa wreaths, jalapeño & sundried tomato babka, halloumi coriander olive knotted bun John - Pride rainbow cornucopia with lemon ginger buns, cinnamon raisin bagels Mike - plaited cornucopia with herbed kalamata olive & cheddar twists, cheese tomato bacon twists, rosemary fougasse Nelly - potato and onion bread cornucopia with orange & poppyseed samosas, walnut wreaths, cinnamon lemon cream cheese buns Sumayah - sumac paprika cayenne rosemary cornucopia with cinnamon & star anise concha bread, feta dill parsley fatayer bread