Great British Bake Off 2023 line-up: Full list of contestants

For the Signature, the bakers will be tackling a jaw-dropping choux pastry, which will be followed by a Technical and an ultimate celebration cake for the Showstopper.

As the baking continues, read on for everything you need to know about this year's line-up.

The Great British Bake Off 2023 contestants

Dan

Age: 42

From: Cheshire

Job: Civil engineering resource planner

Dan's interest in cooking began when he went travelling in South America in 2007. His particular loves are pies and puddings. Before he and his wife bought their first home, they lived with his in-laws.

During this time, his mother-in-law taught him how to make perfect shortcrust pastry. Subsequently, his passion for pies has evolved into a penchant for patisserie!

Josh

Age: 27

From: Leicestershire

Job: Post-doctoral research associate

A chemist by trade, Josh brings his scientific precision and keenness to experiment into the kitchen, taking careful notes on each part of the baking process and perfecting all his techniques for gorgeous results.

He likes to take his inspiration from old baking books - reinventing classics to give them a modern twist, often by introducing alternative flavours and including the seasonal fruit and vegetables from his kitchen garden.

Matty

Age: 28

From: Cambridgeshire

Job: PE and science teacher

Matty is the type of baker who swats up on online patisserie videos before bed. No matter how good he gets, he strives to equal the impressiveness of the bake that first caught his imagination: a teddy-bear cake that his late nan made him for his fourth birthday.

Now the family’s designated baker, he always has a list of cake requests for upcoming celebrations. He describes his style as rustic but neat, and his flavour preferences as quite traditional – he particularly loves chocolate, citrus and nuts.

Former Great British Bake Off 2023 contestants

Tasha - Eliminated in Week 9

Age: 27

From: Bristol

Job: Participation officer

Tasha makes history as the show's first ever deaf contestant.

The best thing Tasha remembers about baking as a child was licking the sugar icing from the tops of the fairy cakes she, her mum and her grandma used to make. At secondary school, she made cakes for her friends and was soon encouraged by her food technology teacher to develop her skills as a hobby.

Much like her attitude to life, Tasha’s baking is fearless. She uses it as a way to express herself creatively, often embarking upon near-impossible designs – with impressive results!

Cristy - Eliminated in Week 8

Age: 33

From: East London

Job: Mum and PA

For mum-of-four Cristy, baking is a way of life: there always seems to be a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan. She describes her baking style as enchanted and pretty – bakes that conjure up a sense of childhood. Cakes are her speciality, and she draws flavour inspiration from her own Israeli heritage and from her husband’s Jamaican roots.

Saku - Eliminated in Week 7

Age: 50

From: Herefordshire

Job: Intelligence analyst

Growing up in Sri Lanka, Saku didn't have an oven until she was 18, so she started baking when she moved with her husband to the UK in 2003, particularly when she became a mother.

She places the traditional flavours of her heritage at the heart of her baking – particularly the curry spices, which she claims make for the best pie fillings, while liberal sprinklings of cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg find their way into her sweeter bakes.

Dana - Eliminated in Week 6

Age: 25

From: Essex

Job: Database administrator

Dana’s passion for baking started at the age of 16 when she identified a gap in her family’s traditionally Indian culinary repertoire. A self-professed "untidy baker", Dana would sneak off to her dad's house to experiment.

Now, she has her own kitchen (and a cockapoo, Gracie, to clean up after her) and she's become the family’s go-to celebration cake-maker. Her style is rustic and homely, but always pleasing to the eye.

Nicky - Eliminated in Week 5

Age: 52

From: West Midlands

Job: Retired cabin crew and volunteer

Nicky describes her baking as "like a pair of comfy old slippers; little traditional bakes that evoke fond memories". As a little girl, she would roll out pastries and decorate cakes at her Gran's house.

She says it was just as much fun then as all her baking is to her now. Her favourite bakes are still pastries, but she also loves making bread and fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandchildren.

Rowan - Eliminated in Week 5

Age: 21

From: West Yorkshire

Job: Student

English literature student Rowan, 21, is the youngest baker in this year's line-up. But don't let his age fool you! "Go big or go home" is Rowan's motto, and one that he has applied to baking.

His earliest baking memories are of scones, pork pies, shortbread and traditional jam tarts (which he claims as a northern delicacy). Rowan loves to apply his creative eye to his cooking, aiming for clean lines and interesting decoration in his finished bakes.

Abbi - Eliminated in Week 3

Age: 27

From: Cumbria

Job: Veg grower and delivery driver

Yorkshire-born Abbi first learned to bake alongside her mum. She honed these early skills during her teens, when she became enthralled by the Victorian era, especially the traditional bakes of the time. Now, she takes her inspiration from her environment and the beautiful English countryside around her home.

Abbi was the third baker to leave season 14.

Talking about her exit from the show, Abbi said: "It's OK, I knew it was coming. And you know what? I am really proud of myself. I never thought I would be able to do this, it has given me such a massive confidence boost and I have met such amazing people.

"I am going to remember it every day for the rest of my life, honestly! Although I am quite looking forward to getting back to my vegetables."

Keith - Eliminated in Week 2

Age: 60

From: Hampshire

Job: Chartered accountant

Apple pies and fairy cakes – which he learned to bake with his mum – form the baking backdrop to Keith’s childhood, along with his mum’s love for traditional dishes from her home in Malta.

Keith has been baking ever since, and recently has returned to the baking books of the early 1970s to attempt recipes that were once "beyond" him. He loves the challenge of taking on more complex bakes and has grown in confidence with bread.

Keith was the second baker to leave the tent. Speaking about his exit, Keith said: "It's alright, I feel fine, there is nothing sad about this moment. I have had the most fantastic time.

"There were bruises up my arm from the first week as I was pinching myself every half-hour. I don’t know how many hours I will spend the rest of my life banging on about this."

Amos - Eliminated in Week 1

Age: 43

From: North London

Job: Deli and grocery manager

Film and theatre enthusiast, theme-park lover and hospitality professional Amos grew up in Nottingham with his mum and sister, but now lives and works in north London.

Unfortunately, Amos was the first baker to leave this season. Talking about his experience on the show, Amos said: "What I have learned from my experience on Bake Off is that I can always bring anything together under pressure and that I'm now a part of an exclusive club.

"I will definitely keep on baking and hope to maybe open up my own bakery and feed the world with love and cake! Who knows where it will take me?"

Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesdays.

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