Bake Off 2021 contestants: Meet the GBBO line-up

It's just left with Chigs, Giuseppe and Crystelle, who won Star Baker last week.

All bakers have won Star Baker twice on the series and have also received Hollywood Handshakes, so it's a very close call. However, most fans think Giuseppe should win Bake Off 2021.

• Hear from judge Prue Leith on the Radio Times Podcast

As we prepare to find out who this year's winner is, here's everything you need to know about the Great British Bake Off 2021 contestants, including those who have already left Bake Off 2021 and the Great British bake Off 2021 finalists.

Great British Bake Off 2021 finalists

Chigs

Age: 40

From: Leicestershire

Job: Sales Manager

Chigs is quite new to the baking world, embarking on his journey at the start of lockdown in 2020. Through the help of online videos and tutorials, the sales manager has managed to teach himself how to produce complex bakes and intricate chocolate work, and he's hoping it'll be able to impress judges Paul and Prue! Chigs is quite the thrill seeker and loves a challenge – he relishes high-octane activities such as bouldering, skydiving and trekking. When he’s not baking or climbing, you’ll find him spending time with his nephews who he adores.

Crystelle

Age: 26

From: London

Job: Client Relationship Manager

Born in northwest London to Kenyan-born, Portuguese-Goan parents, quadrilingual Crystelle is a baker who brings her wonderfully diverse heritage to her baking. She began baking seriously only three years ago and loves fusing spices from the places she’s visited into her bakes – a fougasse infused with turmeric, curry powder and spring onion is a firm favourite. Crystelle is also an enthusiastic singer, having kept herself busy over lockdown with her online choir.

Giuseppe

Age: 45

From: Bristol

Job: Chief Engineer

Originally from Italy, Giuseppe now lives in Bristol with his wife and their three young sons. As a self-confessed "food snob", Giuseppe is determined to feed his children homemade confectionary, rather than anything that’s been mass-produced. His love for baking comes from his father, a professional chef who did all the cooking at home as Giuseppe was growing up, including making a cake every Sunday. He loves using Italian flavours in his bakes, while he also brings his engineer’s precision to the results.

Former Great British Bake Off 2021 contestants

Jürgen

Age: 56

From: Sussex

Job: IT Professional

Originally from the Black Forest in Germany, Jürgen moved to the UK in 2003 and now lives with his wife and son. As he was unable to find traditional German bread in his adopted home, Jürgen decided to bake his own – and his passion for baking has grown ever since. He is particularly well-known for his Jewish challah bread, and for the celebration cakes that he loves to bake for friends and family.

Unfortunately, Jürgen just missed out on the Bake Off 2021 final.

Lizzie - Eliminated in Week Eight

Age: 28

From: Liverpool

Job: Car Production Operative

Lizzie lives with her partner and their dog, Prudence, in an annex in her parents' garden. She's a baker who prefers simple presentation, and believes in flavour and quantity over precision. Her baking comfort zone is cake, but she loves experimenting with flavour and is generally prepared to give anything a go… as long as it doesn’t involve putting cheese in bread, which she thinks can only lead to disaster.

Lizzie responded to criticisms that her bakes were lacking finesse by making a stunning Showstopper in the quarter-final - but that was not enough to save her from elimination.

George - Eliminated in Week Seven

Age: 34

From: London

Job: Shared Lives Co-ordinator

Food was always a big part of family life for George, who grew up in a close-knit Greek-Cypriot family. Now married to his childhood sweetheart, he has three children and a house full of animals, including a dancing Japanese Spitz, called Eli. His mum taught him to bake, which is a legacy he’s now passing on to his own children. George loves all the Greek classics, and he has a keen eye for detail and perfection in the finished presentation.

When George isn’t baking, gardening or looking after his miniature zoo, he will be in the great outdoors with his family, on bike rides and walks.

Amanda - Eliminated in Week Six

Age: 56

From: London

Job: Met Police detective

Raised in London with Greek-Cypriot heritage, Amanda started baking with her mum when she was a child. She learned specifically about Greek baking from her paternal auntie. Her style is generous and creative with Greek and Middle Eastern influences. She loves painting directly on to her cakes, often giving them a pretty, feminine aesthetic that’s inspired by her two daughters.

Away from baking, Amanda studied graphic design at college and worked in advertising before moving to the Metropolitan Police to train as a detective.

Freya - Eliminated in Week Five

Age: 19

From: North Yorkshire

Job: Student

Ever since the first series of Bake Off aired back in 2010, when Freya was just nine-years-old, she has dreamt of going on the show. This season, she got to show off her baking skills, including making plant-based versions of classic bakes, which she started making for her dad a year ago. Her goal was to bake so that no one can tell the results are vegan. Unfortunately, that didn't quite pan out when she struggled with her Showstopper during German week, resulting in her elimination.

Work-wise, Freya is currently studying for a psychology degree, and she lives at home with her parents so that she can continue to care for her horse, Winnie, while she’s at university.

Maggie - Eliminated in Week Four

Age: 70

From: Dorset

Job: Retired nurse and midwife

Having grown up surrounded by family who constantly cooked and baked, baking came naturally to Maggie. She has an impressive collection of classic recipe books and loves recreating traditional bakes, but also likes to experiment with new and exciting flavours. As a retired midwife, Maggie believed the excitement of delivering a baby can only be excellent preparation for taking part in Bake Off!

And though she definitely weathered through a fair few challenges in the tent, Maggie ultimately became the fourth contestant to leave the tent.

Rochica - Eliminated in Week Three

Age: 27

From: Birmingham

Job: Junior HR Business Partner

Coming from a big Jamaican family, Rochica bakes in a way that reflects her Caribbean heritage, with flavour, passion and love. She always is especially proud when her nan and aunties tell her she has baked a cake that reminds them of the treats they grew up with. Rochica's interest in baking developed when she was left unable to dance due to an injury. Although she has started dancing again, she still finds plenty of time and reasons to bake, which we're sure she'll continue to do despite becoming the third contestant to leave the tent.

Jairzeno - Eliminated in Week Two

Age: 51

From: London

Job: Head of Finance

"Baking is like breathing," for Trinidadian-born Jairzeno. He started baking in 2014, after becoming disillusioned with delicious-looking bakes that just didn’t deliver on flavour. In his own baking, he emphasises on rich flavours, with guava and chocolate being a firm favourite. He also using lots of Caribbean spices, and aims for the perfect pâtissérie finish.

He became the second contestant to leave the competition after failing to deliver with his 3D biscuit display.

Tom - Eliminated in Week One

Age: 28

From: Kent

Job: Software Developer

Tom discovered his true passion for baking a mere four years ago, when he made his dad a sticky toffee pudding cake. Now he bakes several times a week, rustling up everything from pies and quiches to bread. While some might follow the recipe, Tom likes to take the foundations of a basic recipe and make it his own, creating bakes that are fun and often follow a theme. Away from his stand mixer, Tom works for the family software company. He also loves amateur dramatics, singing, and he's a keen runner.

Unfortunately, Tom was the first baker to leave the tent after failing to deliver with his Showstopper.

The Great British Bake Off is on Channel 4 on Tuesdays at 8pm. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our hub for more Entertainment news.