Meet the S13 bakers
Abdul
Age: 29
Occupation: electronics engineer
From: London
Instagram: https://instagram.com/abdul.rehman.sharif
Raised in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents, Abdul is the middle of three children. His interest in baking began when he and his graduate colleagues baked for each other to brighten up their daily coffee breaks. He applies his precision thinking to the chemistry of creating bakes. Matcha is among his favourite flavours.
Carole
Age: 59
Occupation: supermarket cashier
From: Dorset
Instagram: https://instagram.com/compostcarole
Born and bred in the West Country, Carole lives on a Dorset hillside with her husband, Michael, and loves the outdoors. She hosts a segment on a local radio show called ‘Compost Carole’, during which she shares her gardening know-how with listeners. She began her dedicated baking journey with a first birthday cake for her eldest granddaughter Maisie and since then, she has refined her skills, using YouTube to teach herself the finer techniques of decoration. Carole brings the artistry that she uses in her garden to her baking, creating colourful and eclectic bakes that are inspired by her passion for horticulture. Her favourite flavours are fruity and punchy.
Dawn
Age: 60
Occupation: IT manager
From: Bedfordshire
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebakerdawn
The eldest of three children, Dawn lives with her partner Trevor (the self-styled person who tidies up the kitchen after her!) and is mother to three, step-mother to two, and gran/step-gran to four. Dawn loves the challenge of an illusion cake (the more impossible-sounding, the better), favouring whacky and intricate designs that allow her to express her creative talent. She prides herself on her steady hand and attention to detail, especially when it comes to the intricacy required for lace patterns on biscuits. Her favourite flavours are lemon, salted caramel and anything nutty.
James
Age: 25
Occupation: nuclear scientist
From: Cumbria
Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_big_gay_baker
Proud kilt-wearer James grew up in the east-end of Glasgow and moved to England after university. He enjoys the technical side of baking, but is in his element when he makes his bakes his own, with his signature ‘child-friendly horror’ style, inspired by his love of slasher movies. His favourite flavours are anything autumnal, such as mixed spice, apples and caramel.
Janusz
Age: 34
Occupation: personal assistant to a head teacher
From: East Sussex
Instagram: https://instagram.com/januszbakes
Janusz grew up in Poland and moved to the UK 10 years ago. He is now living on the southeast coast with his boyfriend, Simon, and their sausage dog, Nigel. He was inspired to bake by his mother, who always baked on a Saturday, a tradition Janusz continued when he moved away from home to go to university. He describes his baking style as ‘cartoon-like, colourful and camp’, and loves working Polish ingredients into British staples. Apart from baking, Janusz’s passions include internet culture, watching drag and collecting movie props. His favourite flavours are ginger and chocolate.
Kevin
Age: 33
Occupation: music teacher
From:Lanarkshire, Scotland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kevinflynnbakes
Surrounded by family and much-loved animals, Kevin is devoted to his nearest and dearest and spends as much time as possible with his wife, Rachel, and his siblings and their partners, laughing, eating and playing board games. While Kevin is principally a saxophonist, he is also accomplished at the flute, the piano and the clarinet too. He began baking when he was 17. His ethos in the kitchen is to use the best, seasonal ingredients and to spend time refining his technique – with these in hand, he believes the presentation will take care of itself. He loves interesting combinations of fruits, herbs, nuts and spices.
Maisam
Age: 18
Occupation: student and sales assistant
From: Greater Manchester
Instagram: https://instagram.com/la.maisam
The youngest contestant in this year’s line-up, Maisam is originally from Libya and has lived in the UK since she was nine. She has a strong creative steak and is pentalingual – meaning she speaks a whopping five languages (English, Arabic, Amazigh, Spanish and Turkish) and aims to take that up to seven languages before she turns 20. She has been baking since she was about 13 years old, and she loves the science required to get a bake right – often trying something multiple times until it is perfect. Her favourite flavours are inspired by her Mediterranean heritage.
Maxy
Age: 29
Occupation: architectural assistant
From: London
Instagram: https://instagram.com/maxythebaker
Swedish-born Maxy studied fine art and went on to achieve a Masters degree in Architecture, pausing her final qualifications to raise her two daughters, Tyra and Talia. She has DIY-ed every corner of her flat – from laying the flooring and resurfacing the balcony to painting the walls and hanging her own artwork. She began baking five years ago, with the arrival of her first daughter, and uses her strong artistic skills to create beautifully decorated celebration cakes. Her favourite flavours link to her Scandinavian upbringing.
Rebs
Age: 23
Occupation: Master’s student
From: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/rebsbakes
Rebs spent her childhood in the countryside in Northern Ireland and loves everything to do with Irish culture – she can Irish dance and play the tin whistle. Her earliest baking memory is of being a child, aged only three years old, helping her mum in the kitchen, and of eating her granny’s renowned lemon meringue pies. She reignited her love for baking as a way to unwind from the stress of a busy life in the tech world. Flavour is paramount for her, and she has more recently started to play around with Middle Eastern ingredients – in a nod to her boyfriend, Jack’s Turkish family heritage.
Sandro
Age: 30
Occupation: nanny
From: London
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sandrosbakes
Sandro was born in Angola but had to flee with his mum when he was two because of the Angolan war. When Sandro was 21, his father passed away and he turned to baking as a form of therapy. Now he lives and breathes it and is often found rustling up bakes in a relaxed vibe with the telly on or running virtual baking classes for children with autism. Passionate about fitness, Sandro is a keen boxer and has a background in ballet and breakdance too! He likes to infuse his bakes with flavours from his Angolan heritage.
Syabira
Age: 32
Occupation: cardiovascular research associate
From: London
Instagram: https://instagram.com/syabira_bakes
Malaysian-born Syabira is one of seven children. She moved to the UK in 2013 to study for her PhD and is now happily settled in London with her boyfriend, Bradley. Syabira started baking relatively recently – in 2017 – with a red velvet cake, which reminded her of the treats she shared with her friends back home. She is all for giving Malaysian flavour twists to British classics – chicken rendang cornish pasties are a particular favourite.
Will
Age: 45
Occupation: former charity director
From: London
Instagram: https://instagram.com/will.4.food
One of three children, Will grew up just outside Bristol before leaving for university in Liverpool. Now he lives in London with his wife, three children and a cat called Tiggy. His passion for baking began when he was two, when his mum would give him her pastry trimmings to turn into little jam tarts. Intrigued by the technical side of baking, he is a particular fan of using yeast – and not just in bread! His favourite flavours are salted caramel and paprika (but not at the same time).
13×7: Custard Week
It’s Custard Week, and the bakers put their twist on floating islands in the Signature, tackle a summer staple in the Technical, and make custard the star and basis of a showstopping set gateau.
Signature challenge: 8 floating islands
Who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Abdul – floating islands with orange crème anglaise, cherry coulis, pistachio praline
Janusz – vanilla latte floating islands with espresso custard, vanilla crème anglaise, orange zest biscuit
Kevin – floating islands with rose crème anglaise, prosecco meringue, lychee & raspberry coulis, pink tuille biscuit
Maxy – blueberry lagoon floating islands with crème anglaise, blueberry sauce, caramelised sugar swirls, pistachios
Sandro – floating islands with brandy infused cardamom custard, cherry sparkling jelly with rosé prosecco, caramelised hazelnut & almond topping, dark chocolate shavings
Syabira – mojito floating islands with minty sand, lime & rum crème anglaise
Technical challenge: pistachio & praline ice cream in chocolate dipped cones
Rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 – Sandro
2 – Maxy
3 – Kevin
4 – Abdul
5 – Janusz
6 – Syabira
Showstopper challenge: set custard gâteau
Who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Abdul – millefeuille with compressed rough puff pastry, chocolate crème pâtissière, vanilla crème diplomat, strawberries, raspberries, caramelised peaches, lime zest
Janusz – Polish biszkopt sponge with potato flour soaked in limoncello & tea, chocolate raspberry custard, strawberry & ruby chocolate custard, white chocolate & vanilla custard, condensed milk buttercream
Kevin – three tiers of dacquoise, raspberry jelly, honey custard infused with bay leaves & thyme, Swiss meringue buttercream, prosecco infused macarons, sliced nectarines
Maxy – promised land gâteau with coconut & almond dacquoise sponge, jaconde sponge, vanilla crème pâtissière, lime & passionfruit curd, diced mango & pineapple, Italian meringue buttercream, tuile biscuits
Sandro – three tiered gâteau with coconut sponge & mango custard, jaconde sponge & coffee custard, orange sponge & vanilla custard, vanilla & rosewater buttercream
Syabira – piña colada gâteau with rum soaked sponge, pineapple & lime crème pâtissière, coconut rum crème légère, frosted with custard pineapple flowers, pineapple pastry tarts
Star baker: [Spoiler (click to open)] Syabira
Eliminated:[Spoiler (click to open)] Kevin
Great Canadian Baking Show
Meet the S6 bakers 
André Hayde
Age: 46
Occupation: ESL teacher and personal trainer
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edible_fitness
André is full of surprises as a personal trainer who loves to bake sweet things. His baking style may be bright and playful, but André prepared for his time in the tent with the same energy as he would for a bodybuilding competition: disciplined practice and repetition to hone his craft. Outside of baking and keeping fit, André loves to sing and has a vast collection of cookbooks and editions of his favourite classic novel, Pride & Prejudice.
Chi Nguyễn (they/she)
Age: 35
Occupation: C.O.O. of a cellular technology company
Hometown: Tkaronto, Ontario
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snax.nguyen/
Chi was born in Vietnam and raised in Germany before moving to Toronto at age 13. Watching cooking shows helped them learn English and provided useful baking skills to make friends with their school classmates. They now use baking as a meditative practice to balance with their busy career in tech. Their vibrant style is inspired by their six-year-old daughter, Quinn, who is also their sassiest critic. Chi’s partner, Ryan, lends a gentler ear and supports by tidying up the post-baking mess.
John Fowler (he/him)
Age: 49
Occupation: university administrator
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnyboybakes
John is a man of two coasts who grew up in St. John’s, before moving to B.C. for work. He’s now settled in Victoria with his fiancé, Martin, his mother-in-law and their two small dogs. John prides himself on being willing to try anything, whether that be a new hobby, an unexplored hiking trail, or researching a highly challenging baking technique. He takes after his grandmother in baking, who taught him to do his best and keep going even if you make mistakes.
Jomar Manzano (he/him)
Age: 36
Occupation: structural engineer
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jomar.manzano/
Jomar spent most of his life in Winnipeg before moving to Toronto for work, together with his husband, Carl. He found his chosen family here while singing in the Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus and they get to sample his baking experiments, which often incorporate the Filipino flavours he grew up with. Jomar is precise by trade as a structural engineer so he feels the pressure that his bakes stand the test of the Tent. Jomar also hopes that this experience will help other queer, Asian folks feel seen and inspires them to follow their dreams.
Kristi Carey (she/her)
Age: 29
Occupation: grant and proposal writer
Hometown: Tkaronto, Ontario
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristi_carey_/
Kristi grew up in the United States and came to Canada in 2015 for graduate school. Here she met her wife, Abha, and decided to stay. Kristi excels at facing new tasks head-on, whether it’s learning to laminate dough or building furniture from scratch. She discovered a passion for baking during the pandemic, and the hobby quickly became an obsession. Kristi loves to marry her Chinese heritage flavours with those from her wife’s Indian background. When not baking, Kristi and Abha enjoy hiking around the city with their dog, Po.
Lauren Tjoe (she/her)
Age: 21
Occupation: finance student
Hometown: Tsawwassen, British Columbia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_bakes_and_makes/
Finance student Lauren is a self-described 21-year-old grandma. In addition to baking, her hobbies include knitting, crocheting, sewing, and collecting vintage tea pots. But this grandma has an eclectic twist, as she’s also a lover of classic cars and heavy metal music. Lauren has dreamed of being in the Tent since she was in 10th grade and was sadly too young to apply. Though she’s the youngest baker of the season, she is armed with knowledge from her vast research, using her analytical skills and preparing as she would cram for a final exam.
Lydiane Gaborieau (she/her)
Age: 35
Occupation: biobank manager
Hometown: Montréal, Québec
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiane_et_al/
Lydiane is originally from France, and now lives in Montréal with her husband and their young daughter. Lydiane and husband Mathieu met during the quintessentially-Québec experience of visiting a sugar shack. Though she has been baking for years, Lydiane was motivated by watching this show to expand her repertoire. Lydiane has a PhD in biology and works as a biobank manager, so baking is the creative outlet to balance out her scientific skills. She looks forward to creating stylish bakes in the Tent and debating about butter with fellow Frenchman, Bruno.
Nigel Batchelor (he/him)
Age: 32
Occupation: grad student
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterbuttbakes/
Nigel was born in Vancouver and now calls Winnipeg home. He has baking in his blood as the son of a professional baker. For Nigel and his ma, baking is a shared passion and he cherishes their time together in the kitchen. He hopes to use his experience in the Tent to make his parents and long-term partner proud about his home-taught baking journey. Nigel also thrives in friendly competition, whether it’s among his ultimate frisbee and disc golf leagues, or in a fantasy roleplaying tabletop game.
Rosemary O’Neill (she/her)
Age: 64
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Occupation: federal security advisor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onrosiegram/
Rosemary’s grandson is at the heart of her baking journey. She stepped in to make his birthday cakes in tribute to her late daughter who was a pastry chef and loved to bake for her nephew. Rosemary then discovered a true passion and the birthday cakes rapidly evolved into baked goods of all varieties and even hyper-realistic illusion cakes. She now has a dedicated butter fridge! Outside of baking, Rosemary enjoys painting landscape scenes and taking long walks with her Australian Shepherd, Jelly Bean.
Zoya Thawer (she/her)
Age: 33
Occupation: pediatric endocrinologist
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allpurposezoya/
Zoya has been baking since childhood after moving to Canada from Tanzania. With help from her mother and sister she maintained her own cabinet with everything needed for her kitchen experiments. Her mother is still her biggest resource for baking advice and even some signature tools. Now a doctor in Edmonton, Zoya has succeeded through medical school, residency, and fellowship, but baking in the Tent feels like her biggest challenge yet.
6×4: Botanical Week
Bakers must prepare pressed flower cookies featuring an edible flower or herb baked into them; bakers are tasked with making Chebakia; the bakers fool the judges’ eyes with a botanical illusion cake.
Signature challenge: 12 sandwich cookies with pressed flowers, herbs, or botanicals
Who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Chi – jasmine green tea cookies filled with peach curd, topped with jasmine tea jelly and marigold petals
John – spruce cookies with hibiscus flower jelly, topped with fresh spruce tips
Jomar – alfajores with jasmine cookies, dulce de leche filling, topped with jasmine flowers
Kristi – brown sugar cookies with herb chutney and peppered goat cheese, topped with mint and sun dried tomatoes
Lauren – walnut thyme biscuits filled with burnt honey, goat cheese, and balsamic fig jam, topped with pansy petals
Rosemary – blue cheese, honey, and rosemary buckwheat biscuits with honey buttercream filling, topped with candied pansies
Zoya – sweet clover & marcona almond cookies with mascarpone buttercream & apricot jam filling, topped with gold and flower petals
Technical challenge: chebakia
Rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 – Rosemary
2 – Zoya
3 – John
4 – Chi
5 – Kristi
6 – Lauren
7 – Jomar
Showstopper challenge: botanical illusion cake
Who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Chi – salad with almond sponge, blackcurrant mascarpone mousse, candied almonds, wafer paper lettuce, fondant fruit and vegetables
John – vacation pineapple with coconut rum cake, pineapple filling, ermine buttercream
Jomar – succulent garden with chocolate devil’s food cake, lavender vanilla buttercream, chocolate ganache, and buttercream succulents
Kristi – bonsai tree with chocolate beetroot cake, hojicha buttercream, raspberry jam, modeling chocolate branches, rice bran cereal foliage
Lauren – squash garden with kabocha squash cake, candied pumpkin seeds, and white chocolate chai ganache
Rosemary – African violet flowerpots with grapefruit rosemary bergamot cake, chocolate leaves, fondant violets
Zoya – terrarium with chocolate espresso cake, haskap berry jam, isomalt dome, and buttercream succulents
Star baker: [Spoiler (click to open)] John
Eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Jomar
source: my tv
Favorite ice cream flavor
silverstarry
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