How past Northern Ireland contestants have risen to the challenge as the Great British Bake Off returns
This year's series of The Great British Bake Off will see an NHS worker and a menswear designer among the bakers vying for the top spot.
The contestants are set to impress judges Dame Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with their baking skills, as they tackle challenges involving cakes, biscuits, breads and other delectable treats in a bid to be crowned Bake Off champion.
After this year's line-up was revealed, many took to Twitter to question the exclusion of a Northern Ireland contestant from the line-up once again, a move that has left many local fans who were looking forward to another year of Signature Bakes, Technical Challenges and Showstoppers feeling disappointed.
READ MORE: NI Bake Off star 'buzzing to be back' in tent for New Year's Day special
READ MORE: Meet the NI student taking part in this year's Great British Bake Off
The last time there was good news for Northern Ireland fans of the show was in the 2022 batch of bakers when a local face was included - the line-up featured then 23-year-old Rebs (Rebecca) Lightbody, a former Ballymena Academy pupil.
While there may be no local representation in this year's batch of bakers, we've certainly had our fair share of success with past contestants. Previous Northern Ireland hopefuls have had mixed fortunes on the show down through the years since it first aired in 2010.
Holywood man Andrew Smyth came second in 2016, but engineer Iain Watters memorably lost his cool after his Baked Alaska melted, causing him to throw it in the bin in a rage.
Edited highlights saw fellow contestant Diana Beard remove the dessert from the freezer, leading to claims of sabotage.
As Bake Off returns next week for its instalment, we look back on the highs and lows of the past Northern Ireland faces who have graced the famous tent.
Rebs (Rebecca) Lightbody, week four, 2022
Ballymena baker Rebecca Lightbody was eliminated from the Bake Off tent in week four in a rare double eviction.
It proved to be too hot in the kitchen for the Co Antrim Masters student who was sent home after Mexican Week.
The judges Prue and Paul decided it was the end of the road for both Rebs and fellow contestant James Dewar.
Rebs caused a stir in the previous week’s serving of the popular culinary show as she, along with fellow contestant Abdul Rehman Sharif, received a free pass to stay in the series after taking ill, causing them to miss bread week. It meant no one was sent home as the judges felt it would be unfair.
Mark Lutton, week six, 2020
Mark Lutton was 'buzzing to be back in the Bake Off tent' earlier this as he returned for the show's New Year’s Day special.
It came three years after the Portadown man, who's known as The Baking Buddha, appeared as a contestant on the eleventh series.
Mark Lutton managed to make it to week six before being eliminated from the show during Japanese week after what judge Prue Leith described as “a disaster of a showstopper”.
The bakers were tasked with a signature challenge of Japanese steamed buns, which Mark did fairly well in but was told his burger-style buns were a little dry.
Mark's technical round, which involved a tricky recipe of stacked matcha pancakes, also saw him take a middle spot place.
But it was the showstopper round, themed around kawaii, which proved to be his undoing.
He fell in love with baking through an Edinburgh pie shop he visited daily while at university.
Mark, who now lives in Liverpool where he is a project manager, took part in the show when it was filmed during lockdown.
He admitted he wasn’t even sure he would get on the show after a substantial audition process and had almost accepted defeat before he got the final call to say he had made it.
Imelda McCarron, week one, 2018
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council countryside recreation officer Imelda McCarron was among the 2018 batch of bakers, having learned to cook and bake with her mother.
The Dromore woman has said taking part in Bake Off was "one of the best experiences" of her life, despite being the first contestant to leave that year's show.
Biscuit Week saw Imelda's cherry, white chocolate and coconut flakemeal biscuits impress the judges in the signature challenge.
However, her wagon wheels fell flat in the subsequent technical challenge, leaving her in 11th place. Her "selfie" lemon and ginger biscuit was compared to "stale shortbread" by Hollywood and deemed "a little bland and dry" by Leith.
Andrew Smyth, finalist, 2016
Andrew Smyth grew up in Holywood with parents Kay and Nigel, and his younger brother Jamie, an architect. He was influenced in baking by his granny, Helen McDowell and made her chocolate cake in the Bake Off final.
Andrew studied aerospace engineering at Cambridge University and worked for Rolls Royce designing jet engines.
He now splits his time between working as a TV personality and researching aerospace engineering.
On GBBO, Andrew made a cake featuring a gingerbread man punting down the River Cam, and a moving set of gear-shaped savoury pies, inspired by the technical designs of Leonardo da Vinci.
He presented the Duke of Cambridge with a cake in the shape of a jet engine during a royal visit to the Rolls-Royce aero engines plant in Derby. So impressed was Prince William that he remarked he’d “have to have a word with Mary Berry” as to why Andrew didn’t win GBBO.
Iain Watters, week four, 2014
Belfast-born construction engineer Iain Watters, who now lives in London, is best remembered for the “bin-gate” controversy.
Iain had prepared a Baked Alaska dessert but it was accidentally left out of the freezer by fellow contestant Diana Beard — and subsequently melted. Frustrated, Iain threw the dessert into the bin and was soon voted off the show.
Mary Berry described Iain as “a remarkable baker”, while Hollywood said he was “passionate” about his unusual flavour combinations.
Iain’s parents were passionate about organic foods and this outlook has directly affected his style of baking.
His passion for travelling has taken him to all corners of the globe, and he brings these flavours and influence to the bakes he likes to make.
Iain said of his experiences on the show: “My best moment was the plaited loaf in week three, because everything went so well.
“I got the timing right and Paul liked the flavour and the bake.”
In September 2016 he married Catriona Mills and their wedding cake was...a Baked Alaska.
The 12 bakers this year include car mechanic Andy, retail assistant Dylan, palliative care assistant Nelly, paediatric nurse Georgie, and senior category manager Gill.
Other participants include former nail technician Hazel, who at 71 is the oldest baker in the group, and dentistry student Sumayah, who at 19 is the youngest contestant this year.
Also joining the competition this year is qualified midwife and published author Illiyin from Norfolk, John from the West Midlands an NHS worker, and Mike from Wiltshire, a fourth-generation farmer who was shortlisted for Young Farmer of the Year at the 2024 National Arable and Grassland Awards.
The Great British Bake Off kicks off on Tuesday, September 24th at 8pm on Channel 4.
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