Great British Bake Off 15x7

meet the bakers

Andy
age: 44
from: Essex
job: car mechanic

Andy has been baking since he was a child and now wants to take his baking prowess to the next level. In between seeing the world with partner Nicki in their motorhome, Andy is also hoping to inspire his daughter, Maisie, to follow in his footsteps as a baker.


Christiaan
age: 33
from: The Netherlands
job: menswear designer

Christiaan studied fashion in Amsterdam before moving to the UK to pursue his career seven years ago. His eye for fashion has definitely inspired his baking with every confection having a little creative flair. When he's not baking, he loves soaking up the atmosphere in London galleries and museums.


Dylan
age: 20
from: Buckinghamshire
job: retail temp

Dylan, who recently completed a gap year travelling around Southeast Asia, loves nothing more than immersing himself in various cultures. With an Indian mother and Japanese-Belgian father, Dylan's work is inspired by Japanese bakes and the work of French pâtissérie chefs.


Georgie
age: 34
from: Carmarthenshire
job: paediatric nurse

A self-proclaimed cannoli connoisseur, Georgie has her Italian roots to thank for her adoration of baking. She's also a keen forager and, along with her husband and three children, shares her Welsh farmhouse with 10 chickens, two ducks, two dogs, and a cat.


Gill
age: 53
from: Lancashire
job: senior category manager

Gill's love of baking is innate — in fact, she can't remember a time when she wasn't baking. In memory of her dad, Gill used her superpower for good: raising money via her baking for an Alzheimer's charity. In 1993, she was also the UK's youngest driving instructor, aged 21.


Hazel
age: 71
from: Kent
job: former nail technician

Hazel has become the highlight of family gatherings with her innovative creations. She's made numerous car cakes with working lights and remote control wheels and also made a carousel birthday cake with 500 edible diamonds. When she isn't wowing her family with her baking, Hazel enjoys bingo.


Illiyin
age: 31
from: Norfolk
job: birth trauma specialist midwife

A qualified midwife and published author, Illiyn likes to incorporate numerous cultures into her baking, including Caribbean-inspired savoury bakes and sweet treats using Middle Eastern ingredients like rose and mint. She also freelances as a midwife.


Jeff
age: 67
from: New York
job: former university lecturer

Now living in West Yorkshire, Jeff was raised in the Bronx in New York. A keen basketball player and swimmer, he touched down in the UK in 1979. He learned about baking from his grandmother and Hungarian great-grandmother.


John
age: 37
from: West Midlands
job: directorate support manager

John has had quite the career journey, having had experience as both a hairdresser and estate agent, but the NHS was where he really found his groove. John learned everything he knows about baking from his nan, and when he isn't honing his skillset in the kitchen, he's teaching his nephews everything they need to know about baking, too. Some of his favourite bakes include fairy cakes, pies, and lemon tarts.


Mike
age: 29
from: Wiltshire
job: farm manager

A fourth-generation farmer, Mike works at his family farm with his sister and parents. He was shortlisted for Young Farmer of the Year at the 2024 National Arable and Grassland Awards and was an ambassador for the National Farmers' Union in 2022. In his baking, he's a big fan of incorporating freshly-grown fruit and edible flowers.


Nelly
age: 44
from: Slovakia
job: palliative care assistant

Now based in Dorset, Nelly was born in Slovakia before moving to Austria to study nursing. Her love for baking all started when she was inspired to try her neighbour's gingerbread recipe – and the rest, as they say, is history. The self-taught baker loves incorporating flavours not just from her Slovakian culture, but also her husband's Pakistani heritage.


Sumayah
age: 19
from: Lancashire
job: dentistry student

Ahead of studying dentistry at university next year, Sumayah decided to opt for a low-key, relaxed gap year. Just kidding – the self-taught baker has decided to spend her break in the Bake Off tent, improving her baking prowess. Outside of baking, she is a keen sewer, and even makes her own clothes.

15x7: Dessert Week
It's Dessert Week and the six remaining bakers tackle exquisitely filled meringue nests, steamed suet puddings and a beloved Italian dessert. Whose tiramisu will get them through?

signature challenge: 8 meringue nests with two fillings
who made what:

Christiaan - rose water meringue, walnut praline, morello cherry jam, rose water & sour cream chantilly cream
Dylan - coconut shell shaped meringue nests with dark chocolate, passion fruit, coconut bavarois, rum soaked génoise sponge (Hollywood handshake)
Georgie - almond meringue, amaretto chantilly cream, plum compote, orange curd mascarpone
Gill -  peach melba inspired meringue nests with mascarpone chantilly cream, raspberry coulis, peach crémeux, macerated peach roses
Illiyin - pina colada meringue nests with pineapple curd, lime gel, rum cream, caramelized pineapple, desiccated coconut & rum meringue
Sumayah - cardamom & toasted rice meringue, walnut praline, pomegranate molasses crème légère., tarragon & honey poached apricots

technical challenge: spotted dick
rankings:

1 - Dylan
2 - Georgie
3 - Christiaan
4 - Gill
5 - Illiyin
6 - Sumayah  

showstopper challenge: tiramisù
who made what:

https://instagram.com/p/DCASe2VuLUG
Christiaan - Memphis Milano tiramisù with marsala wine mascarpone, pistachio mousse, strawberries & rosewater, chocolate collar
Dylan - chocolate box tiramisù with cured egg yolk mascarpone cream, espresso & amaretto soaked ladyfingers
Georgie - classic tiramisù with hazelnut praline and chocolate collar
Gill - charlotte russe tiramisù with coconut mascarpone mousse, espresso sponge, espresso buttercream, desiccated coconut
Illiyin - tiramisù with chocolate almond biscuit base, amaretto cherries, chocolate cage
Sumayah -  coffee lemon curd, praline, chocolate crema, mascarpone mousse, batik joconde sponge 

star baker:  Dylan
eliminated:  Sumayah

next week: 70s week

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