meet the bakers:
Aaron
Age: 38
Location: London
Job: senior systems architect
https://www.instagram.com/buymeanicecream
Aaron and his boyfriend Anthony moved from Manchester to London two years ago. He is a passionate baker who fuses French patisserie with Caribbean flair and is always experimenting with his bakes. He is currently embracing Asian flavours like miso and yuzu in his mono-portion bakes. Known as the “King of Hobbies”, Aaron can be found cycling around the city, learning French, working out at the gym, or studying for a Master’s.
Hassan
Age: 30
Location: South Yorkshire
Job: analytical research & development scientist
https://www.instagram.com/madeby.hassan
As a scientist, Hassan takes an analytical approach to baking, researching processes thoroughly before getting started on a new recipe. Inspired by his Pakistani heritage, Hassan is especially fond of praline and nut-based flavours that echo traditional Asian sweets. When he isn’t baking, Hassan is a dedicated gamer, gym-goer and meets regularly with his friends for a quiz.
Iain
Age: 29
Location: Belfast
Job: Software engineer
https://www.instagram.com/thug.loaf
Originally from Coleraine, Iain lives in Belfast with his girlfriend Dervla and their cat, Viktor. A former amateur powerlifter Iain now lifts dough instead of weights. The self-proclaimed “Yeastie Boy” mixes his love of live music with sourdough, immortalising album cover art on the crusts of his loaves. He blends classic flavours with a creative twist, often using fermented fruits and vegetables to enhance the depth and complexity of his flavours. If an ingredient can be pickled, aged, or cultured, he’s eager to give it a try! In the tent, Iain is on a mission to rewrite the Bake Off legacy of ‘Iain from Belfast’ once and for all.
Jasmine
Age: 23
Location: London
Job: Medical student
https://www.instagram.com/jasmine.mitchell
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Jasmine now lives with her cousins in London while she completes her medical degree. She learnt the basics of bread and cakes through her Mum and aunts, and has fond memories of batch baking for big family get togethers during holidays in the Scottish Highlands. Baking has become her creative outlet, and she likes nothing better than using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create classic flavour combinations.
Jessika
Age: 32
Location: London
Job: Service designer
https://www.instagram.com/jesssssikka
Raised in Cornwall, Jessika has fond memories of eating corner-shop cakes with her sister after dance classes, which solidified her sweet tooth. She’s a fan of mixing bold flavours together, such as salted mango caramel with cardamom, and Jerusalem artichoke caramel with a dark chocolate mousse. She manages to balance baking with a host of other hobbies, including gymnastics, roller-skating, cycling, and being a drag king named Oliver Clothezoff.
Leighton
Age: 59
Location: Surrey
Job: Software delivery manager
https://www.instagram.com/leightonthebaker
Welshman Leighton is originally from Swansea, but now lives in Surrey with his Californian husband Eric and the couple’s Irish Terrier, Cilla. Growing up, the multi-talented organ player was told that “boys don’t bake” but obviously, he ignored that advice. Leighton taps into his Welsh roots for his bakes, but with a British and American edge, creating intriguing concoctions like Welsh cakes with peanut butter and Victoria Sponge with key lime pie filling.
Lesley
Age: 59
Location: Kent
Job: Hairdresser
https://www.instagram.com/lesley_anne_bakes
Lesley’s been a hairdresser for 45 years and the clients that come to her salon always expect a lovely slice of cake along with their trim. Despite a love for classic old-school bakes, it’s never the ‘same old’ with her modern and fun designs. She’s been baking since the age of 10, inspired by her Nanny Mable and Auntie Joan, who taught her the basics and sparked a lifelong passion. For her, baking is all about comfort, creativity and making people smile, especially when it’s served with a cuppa and a chat.
Nadia
Age: 41
Location: Liverpool
Job: Hairdresser
https://www.instagram.com/dolcevita.nadia
Blending Indian and Italian flavours with Scouse spirit, Nadia is a chatterbox bringing warmth and laughter into every room. Inspired by her Italian chef dad, she brings rustic charm and soulful flavours to everything she bakes. A hairdresser, baker, and former personal trainer, Nadia channels her endless energy into novelty cakes, creative twists on classics, and kitchen dance breaks. For her, baking is all about heart, heritage, and keeping joy at the centre of it all.
Nataliia
Age: 32
Location: East Yorkshire
Job: Office assistant
https://www.instagram.com/nataliia_richardson
Born in Ukraine, Nataliia was taught to bake by her grandmother, following traditional recipes that have been handed down through the generations. She loves to use these recipes to this day and also infuses classic British bakes with flavours inspired by her roots such as honey, poppy seeds and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Nataliia moved to the UK with her husband Harry four years ago, just before the war broke out. Her family followed shortly after as refugees and they now all live in East Yorkshire with their 3 year old daughter, Francesca.
Pui Man
Age: 51
Location: Essex
Job: Bridal designer
https://www.instagram.com/puimanli
Born in Hong Kong and now living in Essex with her husband and two children, Pui Man rediscovered baking during lockdown and hasn’t looked back. Her bakes are as beautiful as they are bold, and she practices endlessly to make sure her creations are as close to perfection as possible. Pui Man brings attention to detail when it comes to designing a wedding dress, and especially when it comes to her bakes. When she tears herself away from baking, Pui Man can be found knitting with a pint. She volunteers three evenings a week, collecting surplus food from supermarkets and distributing it within her community.
Toby
Age: 29
Location: Warwickshire
Job: Business development executive
https://www.instagram.com/tjstable
Toby lives with his girlfriend Syd and their rescue dog Bex. He has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and his training partner loves refuelling after a gruelling session on the mats with his strawberry cheesecake. Toby takes a stripped back and healthy approach to baking and leans towards classic recipes and flavours as he believes they are classics for a reason. But it’s bread that is his real passion, baking something different every day.
Tom
Age: 31
Location: London
Job: Creative entrepreneur
https://www.instagram.com/tommllette
Tom lives in London with his boyfriend of three years. He learnt how to bake scones and flapjacks alongside his mum and Danish granny. After stepping back from the advertising agency he set up, he recently reconnected with baking and brings a creative flair to his beautifully presented bakes. Tom enjoys foraging for mushrooms, cooking roasts with his dad, fishing with his brother, and playing sports with two queer sports team. It’s a world away from where he was as a teen, when he feared that his secret love of baking would out him as gay.
16×7: Meringue Week
The six remaining bakers starting off by making mini meringue tarts in the signature, before the more delicate task of soufflés in the technical. To end, judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith challenge them to produce a showstopping meringue ice cream cake.
signature challenge: 12 mini meringue pies
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Aaron – Mont Blanc inspired pie with chestnut short crust pastry, black currant compôte, black currant crema, chestnut cream, yuzu & black currant italian meringue
Iain – pâte sucrée, almond frangipane, rhubarb compôte, italian meringue, fresh blackberries, rhubarb batons
Jasmine – sweet short crust pastry, passion fruit curd, fresh raspberries, swiss meringue (left handed Hollywood handshake)
Lesley – sweet short crust pastry, lemon curd, raspberry gel, italian meringue, edible flowers
Toby – apple pie inspired tarts with short crust pastry, stewed apples, walnut praline, vanilla custard, candied walnuts, italian meringue lattice (Hollywood handshake)
Tom – short crust pastry, strawberry rhubarb curd, torched ginger swiss meringue
technical challenge: 4 soufflés with raspberry italian meringue and leaf tuiles
rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 – Iain
2 – Aaron
3 – Toby
4 – Jasmine
5 – Tom
6 – Lesley
showstopper challenge: vacherin glacé
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Aaron – kitsune sundae with lemongrass meringue fox tails, key lime & lemongrass sorbet, ginger ice cream, vanilla chantilly cream, french meringue
Iain – the other Iain’s bingate with dark chocolate ice cream, espresso sorbet, black sesame praline, vanilla chantilly cream, swiss meringue
Jasmine – Art Deco french meringue scallop shell lined with white chocolate, pistachio ice cream, straciatella ice cream, strawberry ice cream, pistachio praline
Lesley – wedding cake with vanilla lemon curd, basil ice cream, strawberry eton mess ice cream, swiss meringue swans & ruffles
Toby – lactose free Colombian vacation with coconut meringue tree, mango sorbet, macerated mango, coconut gelato, mango & salted caramel whipped cream
Tom – mushroom shaped vacherin glacé with banana sponge, banana ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, caramelized banana dulce de leche, hazelnuts, espresso italian meringue, meringue fern leaves
star baker: [Spoiler (click to open)] Toby
eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Lesley