The Great British Bake Off 2024: Meet the 12 Amateur Bakers Competing for the Star Baker Crown

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 on September 22 with a fresh lineup of 12 amateur bakers. The new series features notable contestants, including a 'drag king' with two partners and a wildcard who nearly didn't make the final cut. Nigella Lawson joins the judging panel, replacing Prue Leith, while Alison Hammon and Noel Fielding continue to host the main show. As sure as night follows day, a brand new series of The Great British Bake off will be released to mark the beginning of autumn. And ahead of its return, Channel 4 has revealed the lineup of amateur bakers taking part in this year's series, including a self-confessed 'drag king' who has not one but two partners. The competition series, now in its 17th series, returns with 12 new contestants, alongside new host Nigella Lawson. Among those hoping to create spectacular showstoppers for the celebrity chef, 66, and her counterpart Paul Hollywood, 60, Nigella was announced as Prue Leith's replacement in January this year, following the restaurateur's decision to step down after nine years in the famous white marque. The hosting changes also extend to its spin-off show, Extra Slice, which has been replaced by Second Helpings. The hugely popular Great British Bake Off is poised to return with a sixteenth series on September 22, with a whole new crop of cake creators Presenters Jo Brand and Tom Allen have stepped aside, with Judi Love and Jon Richardson replacing them. Meanwhile, Alison Hammon and Noel Fielding return as the hosts of the main show, when it launches on Tuesday, September 22 at 8pm on Channel 4. Keep scrolling to learn about this year's batch of hopefuls. ClaraThe marketing graduate, 24, loves creating chaotic and colourful designs and always believes 'the first bite of a bake is always with the eye'. Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara moved to the UK when she was 18 and now lives in Hertfordshire. She began baking cakes two years ago as a creative outlet, and then recreating Portuguese classics like Tarte de Nata for her British fiancé Kieran and his family. Clara said: 'I cannot explain the amazing chemistry we all had together, I think we were all bonded by the trauma of practicing so many times and we were so eager to just connect and talk to someone who was going through this process as well. ' Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara moved to the UK when she was 18 and now lives in Hertfordshire ConnieNHS hospital discharge lead Connie, 63, has always used baking as a way to unwind after a busy day at work. Known affectionately as the 'cake lady' Connie's favourite thing to bake is hearty carrot cakes, with flavours including rum fruit, lemon and lavender. She also runs a music centre in London with her husband of 23 years Myke. Connie was initially told she hadn't made the final 12 and was placed on the standby baker list. She said: 'As the deadline approached, I accepted that it probably wasn't going to happen. I genuinely believed the chances of being called were incredibly slim, so I moved on and put it to the back of my mind. Then everything changed with one phone call. 'When I was told that a place had become available and that I could take part, I was completely speechless. The news felt surreal, and for a while I couldn't quite process what I was hearing. I kept checking that it was real because it seemed too good to be true. ' Known affectionately as the 'cake lady' Connie's favourite thing to bake is hearty carrot cakes DanniDorset native Danni, 25, loves foraging in the countryside for their ingredients. By day, they work as a HGV service centre administrator with their father. Their bakes often combine foraged finds such as magnolia, chestnut and dandelion with far-flung flavours like ube and red bean paste. As well as baking, Danni's other hobbies include anime doodling and soldering broken traces on the motherboard of her Commodore 64. Gushing over Nigella, Danni said: 'It was so nice to get to see Nigella walk into the tent - she had such a sense of wonder about her when she took her place, and it felt so right for her to be there. 'She took to it like a duck to water! She truly is wonderful, very genuine in her approach to baking and you can tell just how much she cares about taking on board what she's tasting and helping you with improving it even more! ' By day Danni works as a HGV service centre administrator with their father GabeSelf-described as the 'daddy of Birmingham drag', Gabe first discovered their joy for baking when they watched the very first episode of GBBO as a 13-year-old. Now 32, Gabe describes their baking style as 'gorgeous but very homemade', with a preference for savoury, meat-filled bakes and an obsession with meringue. They have two partners, Ellis and Tyler, and live in the West Midlands. Gabe produces theatre shows for their day job, and performs as their drag persona, Blü Romantic. They said: 'I have met Alison before, she famously smacked my bum, live on Channel 4 while I was in drag on Late Night Lycett, so I was excited to take our relationship to the next level. 'As a Mighty Boosh obsessed teen, who grew into a Mighty Boosh obsessed adult I was so hyped to meet Noel