The Great British Baking Show 2026 Contestants, Judges and Nigella Lawson Guide

The Great British Baking Show 2026, released on Netflix as Collection 14, premieres in the US on September 25, 2026. Twelve new amateur bakers enter the tent, while Nigella Lawson joins Paul Hollywood on the judging panel. Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as hosts.

Who are The Great British Baking Show 2026 contestants?

Netflix has confirmed 12 bakers ranging in age from 21 to 67. Their day jobs include medicine, law, marketing, hairdressing, healthcare, technology-focused project work and the arts. The lineup also brings a wide range of regional and cultural influences into the tent.

Who are the judges in 2026?

Paul Hollywood returns, joined by Nigella Lawson. Lawson replaces Prue Leith, who stepped down after nine seasons. That is the biggest on-screen change for Collection 14 and gives viewers a new judging dynamic alongside Hollywood.

Who are the hosts?

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as the hosts. They continue to guide the bakers through Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenges while the judges decide who earns Star Baker and who leaves the tent.

Meet the 12 bakers

Clara

Clara is 24, a marketing graduate from Hertfordshire and originally from Portugal. Netflix describes her style as colorful and visually playful, with fresh, fruity flavors and Portuguese influences.

Connie

Connie is 63 and works as an NHS hospital discharge lead in London. Known as “the Cake Lady,” she has decades of baking experience and favors rich, familiar flavors.

Danni

Danni, 25, is an HGV service center administrator from Dorset. Their baking is experimental, combining foraged ingredients with flavors such as ube and red bean paste.

Gabe

Gabe is 32, an artist and drag king from the West Midlands. Their baking leans homemade, theatrical and creative, with a particular love of meringue and savory bakes.

Gary

Gary is 67, a retired garment technologist from Nottinghamshire. He is a precise baker who developed the hobby later in life and enjoys citrus flavors and polished presentation.

Molly

Molly is 31, an accessibility coordinator from London. Her style favors classic bakes and familiar flavors, and she has used baking as both a creative and social outlet.

Moyin

Moyin is 22, a political economy student from Essex and competitive sprinter. His bakes draw on Nigerian flavors and a detail-focused approach.

Mo

Mo is 21, a law student from the West Midlands. His baking combines British classics with Asian flavors and a modern, precise finish.

Nikki

Nikki is 50, an advertising post-producer from London. She has baked since childhood and brings an energetic style shaped by nostalgic family cooking.

Shannon

Shannon is 29, a project planner and scheduler from Gloucestershire. She favors rustic, nature-inspired bakes and ingredients connected to the outdoors.

Tom

Tom is 25, a hairdresser from West Yorkshire. He describes himself as a Northern diva and aims for bakes that are witty, attractive and crowd-pleasing.

Yannis

Yannis is 28, a pediatric doctor from London. His baking reflects Bangladeshi, Austrian and British influences, giving him one of the season’s most varied culinary backgrounds.

When do new episodes come out on Netflix?

Collection 14 premieres on September 25 and continues weekly on Fridays until the finale. Netflix describes the competition as a 10-week season.

Why Nigella Lawson joining matters

Nigella Lawson’s arrival is more than a simple cast change because the judging relationship shapes the tone of every episode. Viewers already know Paul Hollywood’s technical standards and famous handshake, while Lawson brings a different television and food-writing background. The new pairing is likely to be one of the season’s main talking points.