Great British Bake Off 2023: Confirmed GBBO start date, who will host and what we know so far - including Scottish baker

The Great British Bake Off will soon return for a 14th series, here is everything we know so far.

With autumn arriving, the instantly-recognisable Great British Bake Off tent will soon be popping up on screens across the nation.

Returning for series 14, we will soon see aspiring bakers from across the country being put through their paces by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

Each week hopefuls will take part in challenges in the hopes of impressing the judges and being crowned Star Baker.

But when will GBBO start, who is taking part and how can you watch? We have all the answers you need.

Who will host?

Comedian Noel Fielding is returning to host the beloved show alongside TV personality and presenter Alison Hammond.

She is no stranger to the tent having appeared as a baker on Celebrity Bake Off in 2020 alongside James Blunt, Alex Jones, and Joe Sugg.

Hammond is replacing comedian Matt Lucas who stepped down at the end of last year after two series. She joins the likes of Sandi Toskvig, who left the show in 2020, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.

Where is Bake Off filmed?

The Great British Bake Off - or Great British Baking Show, for Americans - is filmed at Welford Park in Berkshire.

The iconic tent is pitched during spring with filming lasting around ten weeks.

Great British Bake Off 2023 contestants

There is one Scottish baker taking part this year, Nicky from Dundee, plus series 14 of Bake Off will make history with the first ever deaf baker entering the tent.

Abbi

Vegetable grower and delivery driver from Cumbria

2023 Bake Off contestant Abbi, 27, is a delivery driver from Cumbria. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Yorkshire-born Abbi first learned to bake alongside her mum, developing her skills at a young age. As a teenager Abbi became fascinated with the Victorian era and the traditional bakes of the time. She loves nature and takes inspiration from the countryside around her home, even foraging for seasonal ingredients and growing her own vegetables. As for her strengths, Abbi enjoys creating treats which reflect the nature which surrounds us. 

Amos

Deli and grocery manager from North London

2023 Bake Off contestant Amos, 43, from North London. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Amos, a hospitality professional, grew up in Nottingham with his mum and sister, but now lives and works in North London. The 43-year-old is a film and theatre enthusiast and theme-park lover who, as a child, was amazed by his mum’s ability to whip up delicious bakes at a moment’s notice. She serves as his inspiration and role model for the baker who describes his creations as a labour of love. He enjoys experimenting with flavour and compares his creative style to the converted church he lives in; “traditional with a modern twist”. 

Cristy

Mum and PA from East London

2023 Bake Off contestant Cristy, 33, a mum and PA from East London. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

For mum-of-four Cristy there always seems to be an occasion to bake for. Describing her baking style as enchanted and pretty she hopes to conjure up a feeling of childhood with her creations. She specialises in cakes with inspiration from her Israeli roots and her husband’s Jamaican ones. Her picture perfect bakes will make you envious from the couch at home and in her off time you can find her adventuring outdoors or solving a Rubik’s cube – which she can do in under four minutes. 

Dan

Civil engineering resource planner from Cheshire

2023 Bake Off contestant Dan, 42, a civil engineering resource planner from Cheshire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

After travelling South America in 2007 Dan came home with an interest in cooking – particularly pies and puddings. His mother-in-law taught him how to make perfect shortcrust pastry, with his love of pies eventually growing into a wider interest in patisserie. Described a as a perfectionist, he enjoys selecting a tough bake from one of his 300 cookbooks and giving it a go. When he’s out of the kitchen you will find him playing football with his two young sons or, like Abbi, foraging for treats in the countryside. 

Dana

Database administrator from Essex

2023 Bake Off contestant Dana, 25, an administrator from Essex. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Dana began to bake at age 16 after identifying a gap in her family’s traditionally Indian cooking. To avoid her mum’s wrath with her self-professed “untidy baking” Dana would travel to her dad’s house to experiment. Now 25 she has a kitchen and cockapoo companion of her own to help clean up. Expect rustic and homely bakes, such as semi-naked cakes, with a twist or two to help enhance the flavours. 

Josh

Post-doctoral research associate from Leicestershire

2023 Bake Off contestant Josh 27, is a chemist from Leicestershire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Chemist Josh will bring scientific precision to the kitchen, and as much as he enjoys experimenting and taking notes on each step of his process he also takes inspiration from old baking books, often taking classics and giving them a modern twist. As someone who values technique Josh dreams of owning an artisan bakery one day and is another baker who enjoys harvesting seasonal produce from his very own garden.

Keith

Chartered accountant from Hampshire

2023 Bake Off contestant Keith, 60, from Hampshire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Keith has been baking from a young age, learning everything from apple pies to fairy cakes from his mum who also enjoyed traditional dishes from her home in Malta. He recently returned to baking books from the 1970s to attempt recipes which were once beyond him. He enjoys the more complicated bakes and has risen in confidence with his bread. He lives with his partner Sue and poodle Maisie, both of whom have grown used to waking up to the smell of a freshly baked loaf. 

Matty

PE and science teacher from Cambridgeshire

2023 Bake Off contestant Matty, 28, a PE and science teacher from Cambridgeshire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Matty is a baker with a goal: to equal the teddy-bear cake his late nan made him for his fourth birthday which sparked his love of baking. He studies patisserie videos before  bed and is his family’s designated baker, always with a list of requests for upcoming celebrations. He prefers quite traditional flavours and describes his style as rustic but neat – something which he will be putting into his very own wedding cake. 

Nicky 

Retired cabin crew and volunteer from West Midlands

2023 Bake Off contestant Nicky, 52, is retired cabin crew from Dundee. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Former cabin crew Nicky is originally from Dundee and she describes her baking as like “a pair of comfy old slippers; little traditional bakes that evoke fond memories”. Her memories take her back to her Gran’s kitchen table, where they would roll out pastries and decorate cakes, something she still enjoys now. When she’s not baking treats for her niece and grandchildren Nicky can be found volunteering for a pet-therapy charity along with her dog Bracken. 

Rowan

Student from West Yorkshire

2023 Bake Off contestant Rowan, 21, is a student from West Yorkshire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

This year’s youngest baker, Rowan’s motto is “go big, or go home”. An english literature student, his earliest baking memories are of scones, pork pies, shortbread and traditional jam tarts. When he’s not baking or writing, Rowan enjoys hosting and boasts excellent cocktail-making skills.  

Saku

Intelligence analyst from Herefordshire

2023 Bake Off contestant Saku, 50, is an intelligence analyst from Herefordshire. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Traditional Sri-Lankan flavours are at the heart of intelligence analyst Saku’s baking, particularly curry spices, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. At her family home in her birth country Saku didn’t have an oven until she was 18, only turning to baking when she and her husband moved to the UK in 2003. When she became a mum she began replicating the snacks on supermarket shelves, and is now a self-taught baking wizard who enjoys using ingredients from her own vegetable patch. 

Tasha

Participation officer from Bristol

2023 Bake Off contestant Tasha, 27, a participation officer from Bristol. Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4/PA Wire

Last but certainly not least, Tasha is a fearless baker who uses her skills to express herself creatively, often taking on near-impossible designs. She remembers licking the sugar icing from the fairy cakes she would make with her mum and grandma as a child, and in secondary school she was encouraged to develop her baking by her food technology teacher. Tasha is also the first deaf baker to enter the tent and said it was a “big moment” when host Noel Fielding introduced not just Alison Hammond but her British sign language interpreter (BSL) Daryl to the show.

Great British Bake Off 2023 start date

Bake Off will return to Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday September 26th at 8pm.

Will Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds appear on Bake Off?

Back in June, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds sent fans on social media into shock, posting several images with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith from the iconic tent.

2018 GBBO winner Rahul Mandal commented: "What is happening here, first Ryan, then Blake. Does that mean you and Prue are going to be in the next Deadpool movie?"

There has been no confirmation that the couple will appear on the show despite fan speculation, but we could perhaps see the pair pop up for a boozy bake challenge or as guest judges.

Lively also recently posted an advertisement for her Betty Booze cocktail range featuring Hollywood.

Who won last year's competition?

Dr Syabira Yusoff, a cardiovascular research associate based in London, was last year's winner, beating out fellow contestants Abdul Sharif and Sandro Farmhouse.

However, if you're looking to find out more about past Bake Off winners we have everything you need to know.

Great British Bake Off 2022 winner Syabira Yusoff with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Picture: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4

Where to watch Series 14 of GBBO?

The show will be broadcast live on Channel 4 each week, typically at 8pm each Tuesday. Fans can watch the show live on Channel 4’s online streaming service, or On Demand after.

If you're in the US you can catch collection 11 of The Great British Baking Show on Fridays.