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.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer Returns This Spring with a New Judge and "Star-Studded" Line-Up

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

The much-loved Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer is set to return to Channel 4 this spring, bringing with it a fresh batch of celebrity bakers, plenty of kitchen chaos, and a brand-new judge. Each episode will see four celebrities take on the Signature, Technical, and Showstopper challenges, with just one contestant being crowned Star Baker at the end of each round.

This year, the Bake Off tent welcomes a new face to the judging panel. Caroline Waldegrave OBE, a former co-owner and managing director of Leiths School of Food & Wine, joins the show alongside veteran judge Paul Hollywood. A longstanding friend of Prue Leith, Caroline brings a wealth of culinary expertise and will be putting the celebrity bakers through their paces as they attempt to impress with their creations.

The line-up for this year's series features a mix of actors, comedians, broadcasters, and musicians, all stepping up to the challenge for a good cause. Among those rolling up their sleeves are broadcaster, author, and businesswoman Sarah Beeny, comedian Adam Buxton, Chicken Shop Date creator Amelia Dimoldenberg, property experts and TV presenters Scarlette and Stuart Douglas, and Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway. Also joining are model, actor and author Ellie Goldstein, broadcasting legend Gloria Hunniford OBE, actor and writer Jim Howick, BAFTA-winning actress and writer Gbemisola Ikumelo, and broadcaster Roman Kemp.

Comedy fans will be delighted to see Jamali Maddix, Tommy Tiernan, Phil Wang, and Sophie Willan taking part, while acclaimed actress and writer Maxine Peake, Ghosts star Meera Syal, and singer-songwriter Rebecca Lucy Taylor, also known as Self Esteem, will be putting their baking skills to the test. Husband-and-wife podcasting duo Chris and Rosie Ramsey are set to compete, alongside actor and writer Sophie Willan.

Returning to provide moral support (and plenty of laughs) will be much-loved hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, who will be on hand with tea, sympathy, and the occasional cheeky aside as the celebrities tackle their baking challenges.

The show supports Stand Up To Cancer, a joint national fundraising campaign between Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, which raises money to accelerate life-saving cancer research. Since launching in the UK in 2012, the campaign has raised over £113 million, funding over 73 clinical trials and research projects involving more than 13,000 cancer patients. The money raised helps fund ground-breaking research, from developing laser and robot-assisted cancer surgery to using AI to improve radiotherapy treatments.

With a stellar line-up, a brand-new judge, and plenty of baking mishaps, The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer promises another entertaining and heart-warming series. Be sure to tune in this spring on Channel 4.