Great British Bake Off 15x5
meet the bakers
Andy
age: 44
from: Essex
job: car mechanic
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
age: 20
from: Buckinghamshire
job: retail temp
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.
Georgie
age: 34
from: Carmarthenshire
job: paediatric nurse
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
age: 53
from: Lancashire
job: senior category manager
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.
Illiyin
age: 31
from: Norfolk
job: birth trauma specialist midwife
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.
Sumayah
age: 19
from: Lancashire
job: dentistry student
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.
15x5: Pastry Week
It's Pastry Week and the bakers tackle a frangipane tart and Paris-Brest, complete with a freestanding podium. Who'll be put on a pedestal, and whose dreams will flake away?
signature challenge: 12 frangipane tarts with short crust pastry
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Andy - almond pistachio frangipane with lime curd and chocolate ganache drizzle
Christiaan - cashew & black sesame frangipane with apricot jam and apricot royal icing
Dylan - blackberry frangipane with coffee gel and dark chocolate ganache
Georgie - almond frangipane with raspberry jam, raspberry gel, mascarpone, chantilly cream
Gill - pistachio frangipane with blueberry compôte and piped crème diplomat
Illiyin - toasted coconut frangipane with mango lime gel, passionfruit mousse dome, chantilly cream
Nelly - hazelnut and almond frangipane with blood orange and torched italian meringue
Sumayah - vanilla pâte brisée, toasted coconut frangipane, raspberry jelly, coconut milk crème pâtissière, toasted meringue
technical challenge: spanakopita and tzatziki
rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 - Dylan
2 - Christiaan
3 - Nellie
4 - Sumayah
5 - Illiyin
6 - Georgie
7 - Andy
8 - Gill
showstopper challenge: Paris-Brest centerpiece with custard based filling and edible stand
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
https://instagram.com/p/DBcHtSsx3ko
Andy - pecan mousseline, rum & date caramel, toffee stand
Christiaan - pecan praline mousseline, orange crême mousseline, almond nougatine stand
Dylan - tea Paris-Brest with roasted green tea mousseline, matcha crême diplomat, pecan praline, black sesame nougatine stand
Georgie - cannoli inspired Paris-Brest with pistachio crême diplomat, raspberry gel, white chocolate ganache, stacked sponge cake stand with raspberry cream and chocolate collar
Gill - lemon meringue inspired Paris-Brest with lemon crême mousseline, lemon thyme curd, italian meringue, orange biscuit stand
Illiyin - Game of Thrones inspired nutty Paris-Brest with hazelnut crême diplomat, white chocolate vanilla praline, dark chocolate ganache, golden chocolate stand
Nelly - tree Paris-Brest with pistachio praline cream, raspberry jam, coconut cream profiterole stand
Sumayah - art nouveau tree of life Paris-Brest with passionfruit mousseline, dark chocolate ganache, krokan almond biscuit stand
star baker: [Spoiler (click to open)] Gill
eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Andy
next week: caramel
source
Poll