The Great British Bake Off 2021 has unveiled its line-up for 2021 – and super fans of the show can get an advance glimpse into the contestants’ lives – by checking out their social media accounts.
The popular programme, which kicks off on September 21 on Channel 4 at 8PM revealed the full line-up last night, with the programme showcasing a diverse mixture of cultures, ages, and occupations.
And going by their Instagram accounts, the stars of this year’s show are camera ready, with several sharing glamorous holiday pool snaps on Instagram.
Of course, they’ve also been showing off their prowess in the kitchen, including vegan baker Freya and her impressively iced Nutcracker-inspired biscuits.
Crystelle from London, uses her Portuguese-Goan-Kenyan heritage for inspiration when it comes to her bakes
19-year-old vegan contestant Freya, seen sunning herself underneath a waterfall, likes to create plant-based bakes
This expressive and intricate watering can cake was created is the work of 34-year-old George, a Shared Lives Coordinator from a Greek Cypriot family who lives in London
Amanda, seen here relaxing in a swimming pool, revealed that she learned to bake with her mum and paternal auntie
As ever, Bake Off fans are curious to find out more about the contestants, and they can do just that, with the soon-to-be famous faces offering informations about themselves via their social media channels.
A vast array of professions will also be in the tent, from a vegan teenager, to a Met Police Detective and a Software Developer to a retired Nurse and Midwife.
And many of them have shared details about themselves, their lives, and – most crucially – their bakes, online.
Between them, this year’s cast come from far and wide, with family from Goa to Germany to Greece, as well as Cyprus, Kenya, Portugal and the Middle East.
Freya, a 19-year-old vegan psychology student describes herself as a ‘massive perfectionist’ who like to create ‘unexpected’ bakes
North Yorkshire teenager Freya says she has wanted to enter Bake Off since the first series, when she was aged nine
Showing that plant-based doesn’t mean boring: Freya shows off one of her stunning bake on Instagram, with this soldier-shaped cake
As well as being a keen baker, Freya likes to show off her unique (and delicious-looking) cakes on Instagram
The youngest of this year’s wannabe winners, Freya, is a 19-year-old vegan pyschology student from Yorkshire, while the rest of the contestants range between ages 26 – 70.
Describing herself as a ‘massive perfectionist’ who likes to create ‘unexpected’ bakes, the teenager’s social snaps how off dairy-free creation such as an iced Nutcraker bicsuit, and elaborate celebration cakes.
One colourful creation inspired by Marvel comics features everything from The Hulk’s fist to Captain America’s shield, hinting at promising things to come from the baker who says she’s wanted to enter the show since she was nine-years-old.
26-year-old client relationship manager, Crystelle revealed to her Instagram followers that she will be taking part in the major baking show
Self-confessed ‘stressor’ Crystelle only actually started baking seriously three years ago
Met Police Detective Amanda, 56, was raised in London with Greek-Cypriot heritage – so the mother-of-two’s bakes are heavily influenced by Greece and the Middle East
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Chigs, a sales manager from Leicestershire only took up baking at the start of lockdown in 2020 teaching himself complex techniques by carefully studying online videos.
His hard work clearly paid off, if snaps of colourful cupcakes on his Instagram are anything to go by.
Jürgen moved to the UK in 2003, and started making bread when he was unable to find traditional German bread here, with pictures of his mouthwatering efforts popping up on his social media account.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are of course back, as well as hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.
The Channel 4 show was filmed earlier this year with the contestants and crew placed in a COVID-safe filming bubble – the second time this has happened amid the pandemic.
40-year-old Chigs, a sales manager from Leicestershire only took up baking at the start of lockdown in 2020 teaching himself complex techniques by carefully studying online videos
While he may only have been baking for a short time, Chigs has already developed some serious skills, showing off these cupcakes on Instagram
![Tom, a 28-year-old software developer from Kent, described being part of GBBO as 'the most surreal experience of [his] life'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/14/10/47897027-9988633-Tom_a_28_year_old_software_developer_from_Kent_described_being_p-m-80_1631613303028.jpg)
Tom, a 28-year-old software developer from Kent, described being part of GBBO as ‘the most surreal experience of [his] life’
Tom’s tasty treats he’s shared on social media include these ‘creepy and kooky’ cupcakes topped with orange icing and ghostly characters
This ‘allotment birthday cake’ by Tom was created to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and features classic vegetable decorations
Jürgen, a 56-year-old computer pro who lives in East Sussex, originally hails from the Black Forest in Germany
Jürgen moved to the UK in 2003, and started making bread when he was unable to find traditional German bread here
Bakers for 2021 includes a range of ages – with the youngest contestant Freya aged just 19, and oldest Maggie, 70
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2021: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Dancing her way into the competition: Rochica’s interest in baking developed when she was left unable to dance due to an injury
Bread winner: Lover of traditional baking, Maggie’s favourite recipe is bread
Age: 27
Occupation: Junior HR Business Partner
From: Birmingham
With a big Jamaican family on both sides, Rochica bakes in a way that reflects her Caribbean heritage. Rochica’s interest in baking developed when she was left unable to dance due to an injury.
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired Nurse and Midwife
From: Dorset
Maggie has an impressive collection of classic recipe books and loves recreating traditional bakes. Her favourite thing to bake is bread.
Έτοιμο, σετ, ψήσιμο! George grew up in a close-knit Greek-Cypriot family where food was always a big part of family life
GEORGE
Age: 34
Occupation: Shared Lives Coordinator
From: London
George grew up in a close-knit Greek-Cypriot family where food was always a big part of family life. His mum taught him to bake all the Greek classics, a legacy he’s now passing on to his three children.
Revving up the competition: Car Production Operative Lizzie loves baking cakes
LIZZIE
Age: 28
Occupation: Car Production Operative
From: Liverpool
Lizzie lives with dog, Prudence, in an annex in her parents garden and her baking comfort zone is cake. In her spare time she loves dancing.
Life-long dream: Freya has wanted to enter Bake Off since the first series, when she was aged nine and saw the tent in Bakewell
FREYA
Age: 19
Occupation: Psychology Student
From: North Yorkshire
Freya has wanted to enter Bake Off since the first series, when she was aged nine and saw the tent in Bakewell. She likes to create plant-based bakes.
Pronto, impostato, cuocere! Originally from Italy, Giuseppe was inspired to bake by his father, a professional chef
GIUSEPPE
Age: 45
Occupation: Chief Engineer
From: Bristol
Originally from Italy, Giuseppe now lives in Bristol with his wife and their three young sons. He was inspired to bake by his father, a professional chef and loves using Italian flavours.
Black Forest (Gateaux): Jürgen hails from Germany and bakes his own traditional German bread
JÜRGEN
Age: 56
Occupation: Computer Pro
From: Sussex
Originally from the Black Forest in Germany, Jürgen moved to the UK in 2003. Unable to find traditional German bread here he decided to bake his own – and his passion has grown ever since.
Locking it in: Chigs took up baking at the start of the first lockdown in 2020
CHIGS
Age: 40
Occupation: Sales Manager
From: Leicestershire
Chigs took up baking at the start of lockdown in 2020 teaching himself complex techniques by carefully studying online videos.
Bringing the force: Cop Amanda learned to bake with her mum and paternal auntie
AMANDA
Age: 56
Occupation: Met Police Detective
From: London
Raised in London with Greek-Cypriot heritage, the mother-of-two’s bakes are heavily influenced by Greece and the Middle East having learned to bake with her mum and paternal auntie.
Midnight baker: Before he moved out of the family home, Tom’s mum says she would often wake up to a sweet treat
TOM
Age: 28
Occupation: Software Developer
From: Kent
Tom’s mum has dubbed him the ‘midnight baker’ as before he moved out of the family home she would often wake up to a sweet treat… and a pile of washing up!
Quadrilingual Crystelle! This home baker brings her diverse heritage to the flavours in her baking
CRYSTELLE
Age: 26
Occupation: Client Relationship Manager
From: London
Quadrilingual Crystelle is a baker who brings her wonderfully diverse heritage – born in northwest London to Kenyan born, Portuguese-Goan parents – to the flavours in her baking.
‘Baking is like breathing!’ Trinidadian-born Jairzeno spices up his baking with lots of Caribbean flavours
JAIRZENO
Age: 51
Occupation: Head Of Finance
From: London
Trinidadian-born Jairzeno says ‘baking is like breathing’. He loves using lots of Caribbean spices in his bakes. When he’s not baking he loves running.