Great British Bake Off 2026 cast and judge revealed

The popular baking competition, The Great British Bake Off, is set to return for its 17th season on Channel 4, premiering on September 22, 2026, at 8 p.m. The upcoming series will feature a new judge, TV cook Nigella Lawson, who joins veteran judge Paul Hollywood. Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond will continue their roles as hosts. Lawson steps into the role following Dame Prue Leith's departure after nine series. A fresh cast of 12 amateur bakers, ranging in age from 21 to 67, will enter the iconic tent to compete for the title of 2026 champion. The diverse group includes a paediatric doctor, a drag king, a law student, and a retired garment technologist, among others. Among the contestants is Shannon, a 29-year-old project planner from Gloucestershire, who describes her baking style as whimsical, quirky, and rustic, often incorporating ingredients she grows herself. Gabe, a 32-year-old artist and drag king from the West Midlands, who performs as Blue Romantic, shared that walking into the tent felt like a "national legacy and fever dream combined.