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CHANNEL Four welcomed a fresh batch of star bakers to The Great British Bake Off tent with only three left to compete in TONIGHT'S (November 23) final.

The 2021 line-up included everyone from a Met Police detective to a retired midwife.

The Great British Bake Off is back for a new series with 12 hopefuls
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The Great British Bake Off is back for a new series with 12 hopefulsCredit: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Who were the 2021 Bake Off contestants?

Every year Bake Off opens the doors of his famous white tent where a dozen amateur bakers are put to work.

Returning to the show is veteran host Noel Fielding.

He is joined by Matt Lucas, who took over hosting duties from Sandi Toksvig on the 2020 season.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are also be back as judges.

Amanda -OUT

Meet Met Police detective Amanda
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Meet Met Police detective AmandaCredit: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Amanda is a 56-year-old detective with the Metropolitan Police in London.

She told Channel 4 her baking is heavily influenced by her Greek-Cypriot heritage.

Amanda learned to bake as a child with her mum and auntie before studying graphic design and working in advertising, then moving to the police.

Chigs

Chigs is hoping to do well in the famous tent
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Chigs is hoping to do well in the famous tentCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Chigs is a 40-year-old sales manager from Leicestershire.

Like of lot of amateur bakers, he only started baking seriously during lockdown in 2020.

Chigs said he started using online tutorials to learn complex bakes and chocolate work.

Crystelle

Crystelle took up baking three years ago
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Crystelle took up baking three years agoCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Crystelle is a 26-year-old client relationship manager from London.

She told Channel 4 she started baking seriously three years ago.

Crystelle also revealed she is a self-confessed "stresser".

She said she likes experimenting with flavours and textures inspired by her Portuguese-Goan-Kenyan heritage.

Freya - OUT

Teenager Freya is youngest contestant
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Teenager Freya is youngest contestantCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

At 19, vegan psychology student Freya, from North Yorkshire, is the youngest baker in 2021 line-up.

She says she likes to be "unexpected" with her baking and is "a massive perfectionist".

George - OUT

George says he has a 'creative flair'
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George says he has a 'creative flair'Credit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

George, 34, is a Shared Lives co-ordinator from London.

He is another baker from a Greek-Cypriot family who "has a keen eye for detail" and says his strength is his "creative flair".'

Giuseppe

Giuseppe uses his Italian roots in his baking
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Giuseppe uses his Italian roots in his bakingCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Italian-born, Bristol-based Giuseppe inherited his love for baking from his father who is a a professional chef.

The 45-year-old is a chief engineer loves using Italian flavours in his bakes.

He also brings his engineer’s precision to the results, and describes himself as a "food snob".

Jairzeno - OUT

Jairzeno wants to scoop the Bake Off crown
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Jairzeno wants to scoop the Bake Off crownCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Jairzeno moved from Trinidad 15 years ago and is a head of finance in London.

The 51-year-old says he obsesses over flavour combinations, particularly using Caribbean spices, and told Channel 4 that "baking is like breathing" for him.

He was the second person to leave the competition after he failed to impress on biscuit week.

Jürgen - OUT

Jürgen is hoping to impress Prue and Paul
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Jürgen is hoping to impress Prue and PaulCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Originally from the Black Forest in Germany, Jürgen moved to the UK in 2003 and now lives with his wife and son in Sussex. 

His baking journey began when he decided to bake his own traditional German bread when he couldn’t find any in his adopted home.

He is particularly well-known for his Jewish challah bread, and for the celebration cakes that he loves to bake for friends and family.

Jürgen probably has the most unique hobby out of all the bakers - he is an accomplished trombonist. 

Lizzie - OUT

Lizzie will be whipping up a storm on Bake Off
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Lizzie will be whipping up a storm on Bake OffCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Lizzie is a 28-year-old car production operative from Liverpool.

Speaking to Channel 4 about her kitchen skills she said: "I may look like she's frantic and messy on the outside, but she is usually calm and collected within".

Maggie - OUT

Maggie is hopping to scoop the Bake Off crown
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Maggie is hopping to scoop the Bake Off crownCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Retired nurse and midwife Maggie, from Dorset, is the oldest baker at 70.

When she's not baking, she loves the outdoors and her hobbies include camping canoeing, kayaking, and sailing.

Rochica - OUT

Rochica swapped dancing for baking
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Rochica swapped dancing for bakingCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

After suffering an injury which left her unable to continue her passion for dancing, Rochica turned to baking.

The 27-year-old junior HR business partner from Birmingham says her weakness in the kitchen is "getting flustered and everything going wrong".

But her Bake Off journey came to an end when she was eliminated for her performance during bread week.

Tom - OUT

Tom took up baking during lockdown
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Tom took up baking during lockdownCredit: ©Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Tom is a 28-year-old developer for his family software company in Kent.

He revealed his baking was "a welcome escape" during lockdown.

Tom's other hobbies are amateur dramatics and singing - but he was the first contestant to leave the competition.

When does the Great British Bake Off 2021 final start?

The Bake Off final will take place on November 23 at 8pm on Channel 4.

The remaining three contestants will have to impress the judges one last time with a technical, signature and a showstopper bake.

Unlike the rest of the competition, the final does not usually have a theme and is a culmination of all the previous challenges.

You can catch up with any missed episodes on .

 

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