The Great British Bake Off is back! So let’s meet the bakers

Ugna's a keen bodybuilder who moved from her homecountry, Lithuania, to Essex, where she now lives with her partner and two children.

Tamal is a trainee anaesthetist, whose biggest Bake Off fear is the judges thinking a child has done his piping. Sad times...

Dorret is an acocuntant who's been baking for 40 years, and likes working with chocolate and booze. But, then again... who doesn't?

Former travel photographer, Ian, is a stay-at-home dad most of the time. But when the Dalai Lama comes to visit the UK he works as his personal snapper. Cool, huh?

Sandy's a child welfare officer, which includes her running a cookery club for children from deprived backgrounds.

Mat learnt to bake in between working shifts as a firefighter in London.

Nadiya is a full-time mum of three and the daughter of a restaurant owner, so she comes from a family of foodies.

Alvin's a nurse, and lives with his wife and two young children in Bracknell. He comes across as cool as a cucumber, but can get pretty nervous... especially around caramel.

Marie was put forward for TGBBO by her daughter, despite her saying she couldn't even boil an egg when her children were growing up!

Stu is a professional musician who likes experimenting with Middle Eastern spices.

Flora is this year's youngest Bake Off contestant, and says her harshest critics are her two younger sisters

Paul's a former Coldstream Guard who performed ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace. Oh, and he loves sugarcraft.