A Gemma Collins superfan, a woman who took her cat to prom and "Compost Carole" are among the quirky Great British Bake Off 2022 contestants this year.
The full line-up has been revealed ahead of the new series of the Channel 4 Show, which starts on Tuesday 13 September at 8pm, when a new batch of diverse amateur bakers enter the tent.
As usual, they will need to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith to be crowned the champion, while hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding are also back for series 13.
So who are the contestants this year? Meet then below…
Abdul, 29, an electronics engineer from London
Raised in Saudi Arabia by Pakistani parents, Abdul is also a keen salsa dancer and a self-confessed space nerd, who applies his precision thinking to the chemistry of creating bakes.
His interest in baking began when he and his graduate colleagues baked for each other to brighten up their daily coffee breaks. Matcha is among his favourite flavours.
Carole, 59, a supermarket cashier from Dorset
Born and bred in the West Country, the pink and purple-haired 59-year-old shares her gardening know-how on a local radio show segment called Compost Carole.
Carole brings the artistry that she uses in her garden to her baking, creating colourful and eclectic bakes that are inspired by her passion for horticulture. She has refined her decoration skills using YouTube and favourite flavours are fruity and punchy.
Dawn, 60, an IT manager from Bedfordshire
Describing herself as an artist in and out of the kitchen, Dawn, loves the challenge of an illusion cake (the more impossible-sounding the better), favouring whacky and intricate designs that allow her to express her creative talent.
She prides herself on her steady hand and attention to detail, and her favourite flavours are lemon, salted caramel and anything nutty.
James, 25, a nuclear scientist from Cumbria
The proud kilt-wearer James, who grew up in the east-end of Glasgow, is a self-proclaimed board- game geek and loves horror films from the 70s and 80s.
He enjoys the technical side of baking, but is in his element when he makes his bakes his own with his signature "child-friendly horror" style and adorable decoration. His favourite flavours are anything autumnal, such as mixed spice, apples and caramel.
Janusz, 34, a personal assistant to head teacher from East Sussex
Aside from baking, Janusz’s passions include internet culture, watching drag (he even bought his boyfriend a statue of Ru Paul) and collecting movie props.
Describing his baking style as "cartoon-like, colourful and camp", he loves working Polish ingredients into British staples and his favourite flavours are ginger and chocolate.
And his Instagram reveals he's a big fan of TOWIE star icon The GC, rocking a Gemma-themed Christmas jumper.
Kevin, 33, music teacher from Lanarkshire
A talented musician, who not only teaches but also performs, Kevin is principally a saxophonist but also accomplished at the flute, the piano and the clarinet.
His ethos in the kitchen is to use the best, seasonal ingredients and to spend time refining his technique – and let the presentation take care of itself. He loves interesting combinations of fruits, herbs, nuts and spices.
Maisam, 18, a student and sales assistant from Greater Manchester
Originally from Libya, Maisam speaks five languages but aims to make that seven by the time she turns 20. She loves the science required to get a bake right – often trying something multiple times until it is perfect.
Her favourite flavours are inspired by her Mediterranean heritage – she loves the tang of olives, the sweetness of dates and the nuttiness of sesame seeds.
Maxy, 29, an architectural assistant from London
Swedish-born Maxy studied fine art and went on to achieve a Masters degree in Architecture, pausing her final qualifications to raise her two daughters. She has DIY-ed every corner of her flat and uses her strong artistic skills to create beautifully decorated celebration cakes.
Her favourite flavours link to her Scandinavian upbringing – the sweet and delicate spice of cardamom and saffron buns and cinnamon rolls.
Rebs, 23, a masters student from County Antrim
Rebs loves everything to do with Irish culture – she can Irish dance and play the tin whistle – and recently returned to baking as a way to unwind from the stress of a busy life in the tech world.
Flavour is paramount for her, and she has started to play around with Middle Eastern ingredients in a nod to her boyfriend Jack’s Turkish heritage.
Her Instagram reveals she's an animal lover – and even took her cat Branston to prom.
Sandro, 30, a nanny from London
Sandro fled the Angolan war with his mum when he was two and is passionate about fitness, as a keen boxer with a background in ballet and breakdance.
He turned to baking when he was 21 as a form of therapy after his father died. He likes to infuse his bakes with flavours from his Angolan heritage – the spice of paprika paired with tangy cheese, and sweet bakes smothered in sticky dulce de leche.
Syabira, 32, a cardiovascular research associate from London
One of seven children, Malaysian-born Syabira loves gaming and often spends evenings playing an online World-War-II simulation game.
She is all for giving Malaysian flavour twists to British classics – chicken rendang cornish pasties are a particular favourite.
Will, 45, a former charity director from London
When he’s not hanging out with his three kids, Will loves DIY and carpentry to indulge his background in architecture, as well as cooking up new and exciting dishes.
Intrigued by the technical side of baking, he is a particular fan of using yeast – not just in bread – and his favourite flavours are salted caramel and paprika (but not at the same time).
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