The Great British Bake Off’s 2025 cast includes four queer contestants – and a drag king

The Great British Bake Off returns to screens in September, with a clan of new contestants hoping to be named Star Baker. This year, the cast line up includes at least four LGBTQ+ contestants, with one being the show’s first ever drag king.

The ultimate autumnal feel good show arrives back on Channel 4 in the UK from 2 September, with kitchen connoisseurs Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood back for series 16 as the scrupulous judges.

TV stalwart Alison Hammond and The Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding are also back again as this year’s presenters.

The 2025 cohort of bakers includes a bridal designer and two hairdressers, an ex powerlifter and a roller-skating gymnast – who is also a drag king. Iconic. There’s also at least four out LGBTQ+ contestants who will be vying for Prue Leith’s beady eye of approval and a Paul Hollywood handshake. Let’s meet them.

Jessika, a 32-year-old service designer and drag king

Somehow, 32-year-old service designer Jessika manages to balance baking with a host of other hobbies, including gymnastics, roller-skating, cycling, and being a drag king.

Jessika was raised in Cornwall and now lives in London, but it was in Cornwall that she developed a solid sweet tooth. She’s a fan of mixing bold flavours together, such as salted mango caramel with cardamom, and Jerusalem artichoke caramel with a dark chocolate mousse.

This roller-blading, cake-making drag king loves gifting her sweet treats to her friends and family, but when she’s not doing that, you can catch her dressing up as Britney Spears and attending Pride parades.

“Golly!! The cake is FINALLYYY out of the oven,” Jessica said of her casting on Bake Off.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, this girl actually made it into the tent!!!!! As an amateur baker, this is something I’ve wanted for the longest time, and still can’t quite believe it’s happened.

“I’m beyond grateful for all the love and support I received along the way, and so sorry to everyone I had to keep it from (hands down the hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep!!!).

“As someone who can be a bit of a worrier, I’m absolutely terrified to watch it back… but also SO excited. So come join the fun, watch me make a mess and whisk it all on The Great British Bake Off!!!”

Aaron, a 38-year-old senior systems architect

Aaron, 38, now lives in London after moving to the capital city with his boyfriend Anthony from Manchester two years ago. He’s another one with a vast array of hobbies, as besides baking, he’s often seen cycling, learning French, or at the gym working out. He’s even been dubbed the “King of Hobbies”.

When he is in the kitchen, his favourite thing to do is blend the delicacy of French patisserie with zaps of Caribbean flavour.

Tom, a 31-year-old creative entrepreneur 

The London LGBTQs are really repping for the community on Bake Off this year. 31-year-old creative entrepreneur Tom, who has recently stepped away from his advertising agency to fully focus on food, lives in the city with his boyfriend of three years.

You guessed it: this is another multi-hobby baker. When Tom isn’t using his creative flair to create stunning bakes, he’s foraging for mushrooms and cooking roasts with his dad, fishing with his brother, or playing sports with his queer sports team.

It’s a world away from where he was as a teen, when he feared that his love of baking –  he grew up making flapjacks with his mum and Danish nan – would out him as gay.

Leighton, a 59-year-old Software Delivery Manager

Welshman Leighton is originally from Swansea, but now lives in Surrey with his Californian husband Eric and the couple’s Irish Terrier, Cilla. Growing up, the multi-talented organ player was told that “boys don’t bake” but obviously, he ignored that advice, and now he’s on The Great British Bake Off.

Leighton taps into his Welsh roots for his bakes, but with a British and American edge, creating intriguing concoctions like Welsh cakes with peanut butter and Victoria Sponge with key lime pie filling.

The full list of The Great British Bake Off contestants for series 16 is available here.

The Great British Bake Off airs weekly on Channel 4 from Tuesday 2 September.

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