A Great British Bake Off contestant has been forced to drop out of tonight’s episode early due to illness.

The Channel 4 series returns tonight with host Alison Hammond breaking the news to the tent.

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are back to host the Great British Bake OFf
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Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are back to host the Great British Bake OFfCredit: PA

They'll be joined by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith
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They’ll be joined by Paul Hollywood and Prue LeithCredit: Channel 4
A show source revealed: “The baker was gutted to miss out on the second day but they weren’t feeling up to it and so they had to sit it out.”

The first episode brings another fresh twist as the bakers are told about a new challenge.

They’ll be asked to replicate a bake from scratch – and without a recipe to guide them.

Alison reveals: “Each week the bakers will face a gingham-clad secret second challenge but this time there’s an extra surprise awaiting them.”

Her co-host Noel Fielding continues: “This is a taste and bake challenge.

“You have five minutes to inspect your cake and then you have to recreate it with no recipe.”

Among the new bakers hoping to win a Hollywood handshake are Farmer Mike, 29, from Wiltshire and Menswear Designer Christiaan, 33, from London.

Paul gives out a Hollywood handshake in the first challenge of the new series.

The series kicks off with Cake Week which proves to be a real eye-opener for the new batch of bakers.

After the initial signature challenge comes the technical challenge to bake Battenberg cakes without a recipe.

Lastly the show-stopper, featuring hyper-realistic cakes, sees contestant Georgie make a replica of her pet duck Fanny.

Alison asks judges Paul and Prue Leith: “How does Fanny taste?”

Bake Off returns tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.

Great British Bake off cast 2024

The Great British Bake Off is back for another series of the heartwarming Channel 4 show.

Legendary judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back to give their expert opinion, while hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond are on hand to lift the bakers spirits.

Here are the amateur bakers all taking part in 2024.

Andy, 44, car mechanic.
Christiaan, 33, menswear designer.
Dylan, 20, retail assistant.
Georgie, 34, paediatric nurse.
Gill, 53, senior category manager.
Hazel, 71, former nail technician.
Illiyin, 31, birth trauma specialist midwife.
Jeff, 67, former university lecturer.
John, 37, NHS directorate support manager.
Mike, 29, farmer.
Nelly, 44, palliative care assistant.
Sumayah, 19, student.