The Great British Baking Show 2026 Contestants: Meet the Bakers, Judges and Hosts

The Great British Baking Show 2026 contestants are Clara, Connie, Danni, Gabe, Gary, Molly, Moyin, Mo, Nikki, Shannon, Tom and Yannis. Netflix releases the new season as Collection 14 on September 25, 2026, while UK viewers know the same competition as The Great British Bake Off Series 17.

Nigella Lawson joins Paul Hollywood at the judging table following Prue Leith’s departure. Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as hosts.

The Great British Baking Show 2026 at a glance
DetailInformation
Netflix titleThe Great British Baking Show
UK titleThe Great British Bake Off
Netflix season nameCollection 14
UK seriesSeries 17
Netflix release dateSeptember 25, 2026
Number of bakers12
JudgesPaul Hollywood, Nigella Lawson
HostsAlison Hammond, Noel Fielding
Format10-week amateur baking competition

Great British Baking Show 2026 contestants list

BakerAgeOccupationHometown
Clara24Marketing graduateHertfordshire
Connie63NHS hospital discharge leadLondon
Danni25HGV service center administratorDorset
Gabe32Artist and drag kingWest Midlands
Gary67Retired garment technologistNottinghamshire
Molly31Accessibility coordinatorLondon
Moyin22Political economy studentEssex
Mo21Law studentWest Midlands
Nikki50Advertising post-producerLondon
Shannon29Project planner and schedulerGloucestershire
Tom25HairdresserWest Yorkshire
Yannis28Pediatric doctorLondon

The lineup ranges from 21 to 67 years old, giving Collection 14 a wide mix of life experience, baking styles and cultural influences.

Clara

Clara, 24, is a marketing graduate from Hertfordshire. Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, she moved to the UK at 18. Her baking style is colorful and visually ambitious, with an emphasis on fruity flavors and Portuguese influences.

Connie

Connie, 63, works as an NHS hospital discharge lead and comes from London. Baking has been part of her life for as long as she can remember, and colleagues and friends know her as the Cake Lady. Her preferred flavors include carrot cake, citrus, lavender and fruit soaked in rum and spices.

Danni

Danni, 25, is an HGV service center administrator from Dorset with one of the most experimental styles in the group. They enjoy foraging and incorporating ingredients such as magnolia, chestnut and dandelion into their baking, alongside flavors including ube and red bean paste.

Gabe

Gabe, 32, is an artist and drag king from the West Midlands. A performer and costume designer, Gabe approaches baking with the same creative instincts that influence their other work.

Gary

At 67, Gary is the oldest contestant in the 2026 lineup. The retired garment technologist from Nottinghamshire came to serious baking comparatively late and has since developed a methodical style built around strong presentation and bold flavors, particularly citrus.

Molly

Molly, 31, is an accessibility coordinator from London. She learned to bake with her grandmother and favors classic flavors including hazelnut, mint and fresh fruit.

Moyin

Moyin, 22, is a political economy student from Essex. He began baking with his mother at the age of five. His Nigerian heritage influences his flavor choices, including ingredients such as grains of paradise and groundnuts.

Mo

Mo, 21, is the youngest contestant in Collection 14. The West Midlands law student started experimenting with baking as a child and gradually progressed from mug cakes and boxed mixes to more technically polished creations.

Nikki

Nikki, 50, is an advertising post-producer from London. She began baking with her mother when she was seven and describes the process as therapeutic.

Shannon

Shannon, 29, is a project planner and scheduler from Gloucestershire. Her baking aesthetic is influenced by nature, gardening and the countryside, and she describes her style as whimsical, rustic and slightly magical.

Tom

Tom, 25, is a hairdresser from West Yorkshire. He learned to bake with his grandmother and was making technically tricky treats such as brandy snaps while still very young.

Yannis

Yannis, 28, is a pediatric doctor from London. Born in Vienna and raised partly in London, his baking draws on Bangladeshi, Austrian and British influences. One of his earliest food memories is making bhapa pitha with his grandmother.

For more Netflix baking competition coverage, see our Baking Impossible Netflix judges guide.

Who are the Great British Baking Show judges in 2026?

The judges for Collection 14 are Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson. Hollywood remains the show’s long-running baking expert, while the 2026 season marks Lawson’s first full series at the judging table. She replaces Prue Leith, who stepped down after nine seasons.

Who hosts The Great British Baking Show in 2026?

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as hosts. Hollywood and Lawson evaluate the food, while Hammond and Fielding move around the tent, introduce challenges, keep track of time and provide moral support when bakers begin to panic.

How does The Great British Baking Show work?

Signature Challenge

The Signature asks bakers to make a familiar type of bake in their own style. It is usually the best opportunity to show personality, family influences and preferred flavors.

Technical Challenge

The Technical removes much of that comfort. Contestants receive limited instructions for the same bake, and the judges then rank the finished results without knowing who made each one.

Showstopper Challenge

The Showstopper is the largest challenge of the week. Bakers have to combine technique, flavor and visual presentation in a creation designed to impress the judges.

Why is it called Collection 14 on Netflix?

In the United Kingdom, the 2026 competition is The Great British Bake Off Series 17. Netflix distributes the program in the United States as The Great British Baking Show, using a separate collection numbering system. That makes the 2026 installment Collection 14 on Netflix.

When is The Great British Baking Show 2026 on Netflix?

Netflix releases Collection 14 on Friday, September 25, 2026 in the United States. For another reality ensemble article, visit the Love Island Season 8 cast guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Great British Baking Show 2026 contestants?

The 12 contestants are Clara, Connie, Danni, Gabe, Gary, Molly, Moyin, Mo, Nikki, Shannon, Tom and Yannis.

Who are the judges in 2026?

Paul Hollywood returns and is joined by new judge Nigella Lawson.

What happened to Prue Leith?

Prue Leith stepped down from the regular Great British Baking Show judging panel after nine seasons.

Who hosts the Great British Baking Show in 2026?

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as hosts.

When does Collection 14 come out on Netflix?

Collection 14 premieres on Netflix in the United States on September 25, 2026.

Is Collection 14 the same as Great British Bake Off Series 17?

Yes. Netflix US calls the season Collection 14 of The Great British Baking Show, while Channel 4 in the UK calls it Series 17 of The Great British Bake Off.

Sources

Netflix Tudum contestant guide

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