Great British Bake Off 2018: Everything you need to know

Here is everything you need to know about the new series of Great British Bake Off.

When does it start?

The first episode will air on August 28 at 8pm.  It is the programme’s second series to air on Channel 4 since its switch from BBC One.

Who are the hosts?

Comedian Noel Fielding and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig will return to the show’s famous big tent to resume presenting duties.

Last year saw their debut after replacing BBC presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.

Fielding, 45, rose to fame in the surreal BBC 3 show The Mighy Boosh. He also appeared in sitcoms such as Nathan Barley and The IT Crowd.

Fielding was a regular team captain on comedy music quiz show Nevermind The Buzzcocks from 2009 to 2013.

Danish-born Toksvig, 60, is a writer, actor, radio and TV presenter and political activist. She took over hosting duties from Stephen Fry on BBC panel show QI in 2016.

Toksvig is also the quiz master on the revived Channel 4 programme Fifteen To One.

In 2015, she co-founded the Women’s Equality Party at the Women of the World Festival.

The party’s goals include achieving equal representation of the sexes in politics and business and ending violence towards women.

Who are the judges?

Back to adjudicate the competition are restaurateur and cookery writer Prue Leith and chef Paul Hollywood.

Leith, 78, replaced Mary Berry on the judging panel when Bake Off moved over to Channel 4.

She was at the centre of the show’s biggest controversy last year when she inadvertently tweeted the name of winner Sophie Faldo before the final aired.

Hollywood reprises his judging duties from the BBC version of the show.  He worked in his father’s bakery in York as a child.

He went on to become the head baker at prestigious London hotels including The Dorchester.

Before Bake Off, Hollywood appeared on programmes including The Generation Game and ITV’s This Morning.

Who are the contestants to look out for?

This year sees a new batch of 12 contestants hoping to earn the accolade of “Star Baker” or a coveted from Hollywood handshake.

A blood courier, a civil servant and house and techno DJ and a retired air steward are all hoping to impress the judges.

French software project manager Manon, 26, will draw upon her heritage in her baking as well as her experiences of travelling around the world.

Also one to watch will be research scientist Rahul, 30. He moved to the UK from India on a university scholarship when he was 23 and now lives in Rotherham.

Once in the UK, he discovered new flavours and cuisines that have inspired his East-meets-West style of baking.

What’s on the menu?

The new series will open with biscuit week, where contestants are tasked with constructing a selfie of themselves in a memorable place that’s personal to them.

It’s also been confirmed there will be a vegan week this year and a Danish week, which is partly inspired by host Toksvig’s Scandinavian heritage.