The Great Celebrity Bake Off Returns with Fresh Faces and a New Judge

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer is back on Channel 4 this spring, bringing another run of familiar faces into the famous white tent. The tone stays light, the ovens stay hot, and the stakes feel just a little higher, with each bake helping to support an important cause. A new line-up of stars are ready to swap their day jobs for mixing bowls and piping bags, all hoping they can hold their nerve when the pressure kicks in.

This year's celebrity bakers include JoJo Siwa, Molly-Mae Hague, Vicky Pattison, Scott Mills, Rag'n'Bone Man, Emmett J Scanlan, Aston Merrygold, Edith Bowman, Ralf Little, Richard Herring, Joe Wilkinson, Babatunde Aleshe, Rose Matafeo, Judi Love, Tom Davis, Mark Wright, Nella Rose, Mutya Buena, Jon Richardson, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Sam Thompson, Roisin Conaty, Alex Brooker and Ambika Mod. It is a lively mix of pop stars, presenters, actors, comedians and broadcasters, which usually means big personalities, a few kitchen disasters, and the occasional surprise triumph.

Each episode follows the familiar rhythm. The bakers tackle the Signature, then wrestle with the Technical, before throwing everything they have into the Showstopper. Flour flies, timers beep, and someone inevitably worries about a soggy bottom. By the end, only one contestant earns the Star Baker title, a small victory that tends to feel huge in the heat of the tent.

Paul Hollywood returns to the judging table, this time joined by Bake Off: The Professionals judge Cherish Finden. An internationally renowned pastry chef, she is known for her precision and high standards, with a sharp eye for detail in every layer and finish. Together, Paul and Cherish will taste, test and deliver their verdicts across these special Stand Up To Cancer episodes, deciding which creations rise and which crumble.

With a new judge, a fresh cast and the same familiar challenges, the series promises plenty of laughs, a bit of chaos, and a lot of baking, all in support of a cause that matters. The tent is open again. Time to preheat the ovens.