The Great British Bake Off is back next week as 12 new amateur bakers enter the famous tent keen to impress Paul and Prue.

This year's group range in age from 19 to 70 and include an engineer, a retired NHS nurse and a Met Police detective.

Who will succeed Peter Sawkins and become the next Bake Off champion? Scroll on to meet the class of 2021!

Lizzie

Age: 28

From: Liverpool

Occupation: Car production operative

Most important utensil: "My red can opener, I have had it since uni. It was the most sought after utensil in the practice tent with the other bakers always stealing it!"

George

Age: 34

From: London

Occupation: Shared Lives co-ordinator

Strengths and weaknesses: "I think my creative flare is a strength, that and making biscuits. Weakness....making caramel!"

Jurgen

Age: 56

From: Sussex

Occupation: IT professional

Lockdown baking: "My family was very cautious, we avoided shops where we could. As a result I baked every bread and cake we ate during lockdown. And my baking certainly improved as a result."

Crystelle

Age: 26

From: London

Occupation: Client relationship manager

Why did she apply? "My baking experience was so limited, and I only applied after my sisters convinced me (with force) to do so, under the expectation that I would get rejected and try again next year. When I got the call, I was in so much disbelief that I actually had to call the producers back to double check that I hadn't misheard. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. Complete and utter madness."

Jairzeno

Age: 51

From: London

Occupation: Head of finance

Lockdown baking: "During the lockdown I baked more and I baked lots of pastry. With every bake there is always room for improvement."

Rochica

Age: 27

From: Birmingham

Occupation: Junior HR business partner

Strengths and weaknesses: "I would say my strengths are my flavours and my weaknesses are getting flustered and everything going wrong."

Giuseppe

Age: 45

From: Bristol

Occupation: Chief engineer

Lockdown baking: "The lockdown has had a major impact on my baking: I had been working from home therefore I could suddenly dedicate much more time to baking. This meant that I had the chance to practice new things and extend my baking repertoire. Probably without this extra practice I would not have managed to make it to the tent."

Tom

Age: 28

From: Kent

Occupation: Software developer

Favourite former Bake Off contestant: "I never would have started baking if I hadn't been introduced to it through Bake Off, so really I've taken inspiration from all of the previous Bake Off bakers. Overall though, I'd say I've learnt the most from Series 3 finalist James Morton. He's released books on the fundamentals of baking and how to create your own recipes, which inspired me to start experimenting with my own recipes at home and ultimately gave me the confidence to apply for Bake Off!"

Maggie

Age: 70

From: Dorset

Occupation: Retired nurse and midwife

Essential utensil: "A spatula - you can do anything with a spatula - dig up roots, stir, mix, even kill flies!"

Chigs

Age: 40

From: Leicestershire

Occupation: Sales manager

Strengths and weaknesses: "My strengths are baking with chocolate, my attention to detail and my organisational skills. There are areas for improvement but I believe I can learn and improve my skills and I am keen to continue to learn more."

Amanda

Age: 56

From: London

Occupation: Met Police detective

Why did she apply? "I always dreamt that I would apply to enter the tent when I retired from the police. When my father passed away last year I realised that there was no time like the present. I was doubly delighted when the production team called me to say that I am one of the final 12! I have been on a euphoric high ever since."

Freya

Age: 19

From: North Yorkshire

Occupation: Student

Strengths and weaknesses: "I am a massive perfectionist, so my strengths are definitely intricate details. I love the decorating side of baking, I think it gives everyone a chance to be creative and share their own personal skills. I'd say my weakness is probably the faffiness of pastry and bread. As a baker I think it's really important to accept things don't always go to plan and doing so is definitely not my strong point... but I am learning."