The Great British Bake Off unveils season 15 cast

Name: Andy

Age: 44

Hometown: Essex

Job: Car Mechanic

Key Quote: “My strengths I’d say are probably making Bread and also Meat pies. My weakness is definitely eating too much bread and pies!”

Name: Christiaan

Age: 33

Hometown: London

Job: Menswear Designer

Key Quote: “As a baker, one of my strengths is to not be afraid to try out new things, taking risks which may pay off or they may not. I also think my background in fashion can play to my strengths, when thinking about design/details/colours/etc.”

Name: Dylan

Age: 20

Hometown: Buckinghamshire

Job: Retail Assistant

Key Quote: “Popcorn is my favourite snack, salted popcorn, I can eat only popcorn for days and be fine.”

Name: Georgie

Age: 34

Hometown: Carmarthenshire

Job: Paediatric Nurse

Key Quote: “My strengths as a baker are that I have had many different influences in the kitchen from a young age so I have played with lots of various techniques. As a mother I never have much time so I always try to be able to pack as much flavour into my baking and cooking, in little time. My ADHD does affect my everyday life and most definitely baking. When I can hyperfocus on a bake I can do it to the best of my ability in a short space of time. On the flip side this can also cause me to rush and make mistakes! Another weakness I feel is that I am quite heavy-handed, so can struggle with intricate designs.”

Name: Gill

Age: 53

Hometown: Lancashire

Job: Senior Category Manager

Key Quote: “I was most worried about walking down the steps to the tent as I am not the most graceful and then I ending up walking at the front with Mike. He was lovely and kept hold of me as we tackled the stairs!”

Name: Hazel

Age: 71

Hometown: Kent

Job: Former Nail Technician

Key Quote: “My strengths are making beautiful cakes and my weaknesses are baking biscuits.”

Name: Illiyin

Age: 31

Hometown: Norfolk

Job: Birth Trauma Specialist Midwife

Key Quote: “My strengths are definitely flavour and my weaknesses are finesse! I always rush and so often don’t have time to neatly finish in the way I want to.”

Name: Jeff

Age: 67

Hometown: West Yorkshire

Job: Former University Lecturer

Key Quote: “I will start with the weaknesses in that I don’t get things right the first time, and have to redo it. My strengths are my flavours. I like making a red chocolate velvet cake with a raspberry goo which is denser than jam. I am a very traditional baker and I tend to stick to bakes that I like and I know that other people like.”

Name: John

Age: 37

Hometown: West Midlands

Job: Directorate Support Manager

Key Quote: “I would say my strengths are certainly cake-related and bread is not the strongest aspect of my baking but you know what they say… practice makes perfect!”

Name: Mike

Age: 29

Hometown: Wiltshire

Job: Farm Manager

Key Quote: “My biggest baking strength is being able to whip up a massive cake for a big celebration, or a huge batch of sweet treats to feed a big gathering, all at the last minute. I am most likely to be baking after midnight – my friends always make fun of my midnight baking sessions, but they enjoy the fruits of my labour nonetheless. We’ve got a big family and a big friend group and I never like to go anywhere empty-handed.

“My weaknesses are timing and finesse (neither of which are important in the tent, right?). If I start baking at midnight, I usually wouldn’t finish until 3am, and by that time my finesse is even more lacking than usual, especially coupled with my poor coordination thanks to my dyspraxia.”

Name: Nelly

Age: 44

Hometown: Dorset

Job: Palliative Care Assistant

Key Quote: “Haha there is not much strength in my baking…. I am sure they chose me by mistake haha… but I think generally in my life my strength is my joy… joy of life and I take everything in my life as it comes and turn it to something positive. So if a cake goes wrong I will improvise and always fix it somehow. Buttercream is a great invention! My weakness is decorations and finesse… I have never been very good In those areas.”

Name: Sumayah

Age: 19

Hometown: Lancashire

Job: Dentistry Student

Key Quote: “My strength lies in decoration and detail, my weak spot is just bread baking in general. Although I do love breadmaking, I feel like I don’t understand it enough yet to truly push myself.”