Who is Molly? Meet The Great British Bake Off 2026 contestant and accessibility co-ordinator
The Great British Bake Off is back in business and 12 new bakers are ready to showcase their ability, and themselves, in the challenges – in one case, literally.
Week 1 sets the bar high with a self-portrait showstopper challenge. With the chance to stand-out from the competitors, accessibility review co-ordinator Molly is ready to pull out the stops.
"That was actually quite telling, wasn't it? It was great to have that on Week 1 because you got to know what they're about and what their style was," host Alison Hammond noted to Radio Times and other press ahead of the show's release.
"You could really tell what their style was in Week 1, and they mainly carried that through until the end, until they left the tent."
But will they rise to the challenge? Or will their efforts collapse faster than an undercooked soufflé?
Ahead of her debut in the tent, here's everything you need to know about Molly, including why she signed up for the show.
Age: 31
Location: London
Job: Accessibility co-ordinator
Molly is a 31-year-old accessibility co-ordinator from London who turned to baking to stay motivated during a difficult health episode in 2020.
She lives in London with her husband Ash and their sausage dog Lando, and works for a disability charity, reviewing accessibility in transport.
Molly started baking over 25 years ago, inspired by her grandmother, and loves traditional bakes with classic flavours, with hazelnut, fresh fruit and mint among her favourites.
Outside of baking, Molly is a musical theatre fanatic and has been involved in many drama groups. She is also a huge Formula 1 fan, clearing her diary for every race, and is currently 25 per cent through a 350,000-stitch cross-stitch landscape of Rivendell.
"I didn’t think I’d ever actually make it to the actual Bake Off tent," Molly said of joining the Bake Off cast. "When I got the call I genuinely couldn’t believe it. I just kept saying 'No way! You’re kidding?!'"
She added: "It was really surreal seeing the tent for the first time. I’ve watched the show for so long, to actually see it in real life was amazing on its own but to go inside and be behind a bench was really amazing."
What is Molly secret baking "super power"?
Molly's secret baking super power is that her kitchen at home is magically enchanted and never needs tidying up.
"I have a kitchen that seems to magically clean dishes for me," Molly said. "I turn around and they’re clean! My husband is usually standing nearby too and it only seems to work when he’s there, but it’s incredibly handy!"
Read more on The Great British Bake Off 2026 cast:
The Great British Bake Off returns on Tuesday 22 September at 8pm on Channel 4.
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Authors
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
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