CHANNEL 4 has announced the 12 home-bakers due to compete in the latest series of The Great British Bake Off 2020. This show began in 2010, gaining viewers and fans across the globe.

The latest competitors are the most diverse series yet, including a radiographer, an armoured guard, a pantomime producer and an amputee who uses baking as personal therapy.

Jamaica

Loriea, 27, is a diagnostic radiographer with Jamaican heritage. The chef infuses Caribbean flavours into her cooking, after living in Jamaica for over 15 years. She attributes her ability to bake from her grandmother, who taught her growing up.

I was just so excited to get baking in the tent and fulfil this amazing dream.

Peter

Sura, 31, is a pharmacy dispenser from London. She pays homage to her Indian, Syrian, Turkish, Iraqi and Iranian heritage through her cooking. “I’m looking forward to meeting Prue the most. I have watched her for many year and I love her passion for food and flavours.”

Influence

Hermine, 39, is an accountant with a French influence on her baking. She was born in Benin, and moved to London to continue her studies 20 years ago. “To finally get into the tent that first morning was surreal. I could not believe I made it in.”

Makbul, 51, is also an accountant and a completely self taught baker. He often bakes pastries for special occasions such as Eid.

Marc, 51, is a bronze resin sculpture from Cornwall. After losing his leg in a motorbike accident in 2016, baking became a form of therapy for him and method of healing.

Peter, 20, is an accounting and finance student, and is the youngest contestant this year. “I was just so excited to get baking in the tent and fulfil this amazing dream.”

Hurdles

Dave, 30, is an armoured guard who first started baking after leaving home.”I’m very pleased. It felt like a long build up and that there were many hurdles to overcome.”

Rowan, 55, is a music teacher from and also a completely self-taught baker. The teacher also regularly revamps 18th century recipes in his baking.

Lottie, 31, is a pantomime producer who says to have inherited her love for baking from her great-grandmother. “Coming straight out of lockdown into another lockdown was weird but totally worth it.”

Linda, 61, is a retirement living worker who picked up the hobby from a young age. “I’ll never lose that magical feeling I had when I first walked into the tent.” Linda is this years eldest contestant.

Spare time

Laura, 31, is a digital manager who began baking as a child and picked it up again a few years ago. Laura credits herself for working under pressure and volunteers at the Samaritans in her spare time.

And finally, Mark, 32, is a Northern Irish project manager who began baking during his university studies. He enjoys experimenting with flavours of Africa and Asia.

This year will also see Matt Lucas make his debut as co-host with Noel Fielding, after replacing Sandi Toksvig who left the show last year.

The series was filmed under strict Covid-19 regulations and rules, with regular testing and an isolation bubble exclusive to the cast. Before filming began, contestants quarantined for nine days and took a number of coronavirus tests. Before being tested again at the venue.