The Great British Bake Off 2024: Meet the 12 new bakers

The Great British Bake Off returns with a fresh batch of 12 bakers, each bringing their unique style and personality to the tent. From a former football player turned fashion designer to a retired engineer with a love for vintage vehicles, this year's contestants are as diverse as they are talented. As they face off in culinary challenges judged by Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson, expect heartwarming stories, delicious creations, and perhaps a few baking mishaps. Originally hailing from Aveiro, Portugal, Clara is an animal lover, who says she's happiest around her pets Gigi the spaniel and Pecan the hedgehog. In addition to her decades-spanning career in the NHS, Connie and her music teacher husband run a music centre in London. Danni is a tech enthusiast who tinkers with web design and game development, and says their bakes are often inspired by the worlds of video games, fantasy and animation. Those on the Birmingham drag scene might be familiar with Gabe's drag king alter-ego Blü Romantic. A creative force, they're also a costume designer, theatre producer and keen gardener, who moved from Grimsby to the West Midlands, where they now live with partners Ellis and Tyler, and their two sausage dogs, Dill and Sage. Gary discovered baking late in life, just five years ago, and is another animal lover, who looks after sheep, horses, chickens and miniature pygmy goats and Shetland ponies, among others. A prostate cancer survivor, he is keen to raise awareness of the condition, as well as taking part in fundraising. Molly says her love of baking helped her through a difficult period in her health back in 2020. A cross-stitcher and F1 lover, she is currently mixing these two hobbies with a 350,000-stich landscape of Rivendell. Moyin has been baking since the age of five, and is a competitive sprinter, having previously been crowned the under-20s County Champion in the 100m. Mo says we need to prepare ourselves for his "chaotic and random" personality when he steps into the tent, and has been fascinated by baking ever since discovering Play-Doh at the age of three. A former podium dancer at Basingstone's Ziggy's Night Club in the 90s, Nikki says her bakes are often inspired by the music she's listening to at the time, whether that's "nostalgic R&B" or more classical pieces. Shannon's biggest love is the great outdoors and nature, which includes her two dogs and pet tortoise. She says she wants to bring "forest magic" to the tent - and once rode a horse through a fast food drive-through. Tom fell in love with baking at a child, preferring to spend time honing his skills with his Nan while the rest of his family were at football matches. He recently completed a seven-month travelling stint around South-East Asia, and describes himself as a bit of an over-sharer. Consider us sat. Born in Vienna before moving to the UK as a child, he says watching Bake Off helped him hone his English skills, and is also a Bhangra dancer