The Great British Baking Show Collection 12: List of cast members explored

The Great British Baking Show, beloved for its charming blend of competitive baking and quintessentially British humor, is back for another season. Collection 12 of the show promises to deliver the same delightful concoction of creativity, skill, and lighthearted entertainment that fans have come to adore.

Set in the iconic white tent, this season sees twelve new bakers taking on an array of challenges designed by judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, with the ever-essential comedic support from hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

The cast of The Great British Baking Show Collection 12 is diverse and filled with intriguing personalities, each bringing their unique baking styles and backgrounds to the tent. Below, we explore the cast members in detail, providing an introduction to each contestant and what they bring to the table.

Meet the cast of The Great British Baking Show Collection 12

Andy

Andy, a 44-year-old car mechanic from Essex, has a deep-rooted passion for baking that stems from his childhood. He learned the basics from his mother, mastering family staples like apple crumble and Bakewell tarts. Today, Andy bakes for his partner Nickie and aims to inspire his daughter Maisie with his culinary creations.

Outside the kitchen, Andy is incredibly active, participating in soccer, gym workouts, and long walks with his family and their miniature Schnauzer, Arthur. Andy's favorite snack is popcorn.

Christiaan

Christiaan, a 33-year-old menswear designer living in London, brings a stylish and artistic flair to his baking. Originally from Emmen, a small town in Netherlands, Christiaan studied fashion in Amsterdam before moving to the UK. He combines his design skills with a passion for baking, creating meticulously detailed and beautiful confections.

Christiaan enjoys visiting art galleries, nurturing his vegetable patch, and dancing in his kitchen to pop music. His favorite flavors include floral scents and citrus notes, with bread being his comfort food, reminiscent of numeral-shaped bakes his mom made during his childhood birthdays.

Dylan

Dylan, a 20-year-old retail assistant from Buckinghamshire, is an adventurous spirit with a love for traveling and cultural exploration. After spending a gap year in Southeast Asia, Dylan developed a keen interest in the fusion of sweet and spicy flavors.

Influenced by his diverse heritage—his mother is Indian, and his father is Japanese-Belgian—Dylan infuses his baking with unique flavors and artistic presentations. He is also an avid skateboarder and has a fascination for vintage technology. Dylan's favorite snack is salted popcorn.

Georgie

Georgie, a 34-year-old pediatric nurse from Carmarthenshire, draws inspiration from her Italian roots and her grandmother, Nonna Rosa. A self-proclaimed chocoholic, Georgie loves combining unique flavors, often mixing crisps with chocolate.

She embraces a traditional yet creative approach to baking, often incorporating foraged ingredients from her surrounding countryside. Georgie has an extensive collection of crockery and tableware and enjoys singing musicals, particularly The Phantom of the Opera while baking.

Gill

Gill, a 53-year-old senior category manager from Lancashire, merges her love for precision and creativity in her baking. Growing up in a family that valued baking, Gill now bakes as a source of comfort and a way to honor her late father.

Her baking style is traditional, with modern twists, and includes her father's signature lemon meringue pie. Gill actively participates in charity work, raising money for Alzheimer's charities in her father's memory. Her favorite snack is a combination of salty popcorn and peanut M&Ms.

Hazel

Hazel, at 71, is a former nail technician from Kent with a penchant for creating elaborate cakes with working parts. She has been married to her childhood sweetheart for 51 years and enjoys gathering her family for festive occasions.

Hazel's baking often includes intricate designs, such as a carousel birthday cake with 500 edible diamonds. Her favorite snacks include cheese and crackers, crisps, and popcorn.

Illiyin

Illiyin, a 31-year-old birth trauma specialist midwife from London, grew up in a busy household as one of eight siblings. Influenced by the diverse cultures around her, Illiyin incorporates Middle Eastern and Caribbean flavors into her baking. She is also a published author and helps women as they embark on their parenthood journey. Her favorite snack is salty popcorn.

Jeff

Jeff, a 67-year-old former university lecturer from West Yorkshire, hails originally from the Bronx in New York. Jeff's baking journey began with lessons from his grandmother and Hungarian great-grandmother. He specializes in New York cheesecake and enjoys swimming, gym workouts, and countryside walks. His favorite snacks are salted pistachio nuts and grapes.

John

John, a 37-year-old directorate support manager from the West Midlands, found his passion for baking through his grandmother. He enjoys baking classic recipes with modern twists and has a particular fondness for biscuits and lemon tarts. John works in the NHS, ensuring schedules and operations run smoothly and enjoys relaxing with his cavapoo, Stanley. His favorite snack is biscuits dunked in tea.

Mike

Mike, a 29-year-old farm manager from Wiltshire, combines his farming background with a passion for baking. He grows flowers for his upcoming wedding and loves using local ingredients in his hearty bakes. Mike actively supports the LGBTQ+ community and has been recognized for his contributions to farming. His favorite snack is chocolate.

Nelly

Nelly, a 44-year-old palliative care assistant from Dorset, balances her busy career with her love for baking. She grew up in Slovakia and incorporates Slovakian and Pakistani flavors into her creations. Nelly is a self-taught baker and enjoys making jewelry and following true crime. Her favorite snacks include shortbread biscuits and cake.

Sumayah

Sumayah, at 19 years old, is a dentistry student from Lancashire currently in a gap year. She creates intricate, multi-cultural bakes and is self-taught, drawing inspiration from various sources. Sumayah combines her scientific acumen with creativity, producing meticulous and imaginative creations. Her favorite snack is dry cereal.

Discover the magic of baking with The Great British Baking Show! Tune in every Friday starting September 27 on Netflix to witness the creativity, challenge, and delicious drama unfold as twelve new bakers vie for the top spot.

Edited by Tiasha