Who is Clara? Meet The Great British Bake Off 2026 contestant and marketing graduate

The Great British Bake Off is returning to Channel 4 – and with 12 new bakers ready to make their mark, Clara is hoping to stand out among the competition.

The marketing graduate is being thrown in the deep end with the first week of challenges and, alongside the other bakers, will have to create herself out of cake.

Speaking about the challenge to Radio Times, new judge Nigella Lawson said: "It's such a great challenge for episode 1 because it gives you a way into each baker, not just the flavours they like and the style of baking that they favour, because even though it's for the self-portrait, [...] It's about also what type of people they are.

"You don't need a whole script, but it's also quite an interesting way how people want to present themselves in cake form."

With the first showstopper set to be a self-portrait, will Clara be able to know their USPs from their kitchen utensils?

Ahead of her debut in the tent, here's everything you need to know about The Great British Bake Off 2026 contestant Clara.

Age: 24

Location: Hertfordshire

Job: Marketing graduate

Clara is a 24-year-old marketing graduate from Hertfordshire who loves creating colourful, chaotically beautiful designs, balanced with fresh, fruity flavours.

Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara moved to the UK at 18 to study marketing and began baking cakes two years ago, recreating Portuguese classics like Tarte de Nata for her British fiancé Kieran and his family.

Aside from Kieran, Clara's greatest loves in life are her spaniel Gigi and pygmy hedgehog, Pecan.

Relatively new to the baking world, Clara never thought she would get picked for Bake Off, saying of her casting: "I never thought that would be me while applying but as time went on I started having a gut feeling this might actually be happening and I just decided to trust my intuition.

"However nothing really prepares you for the 'we would love to have you in the tent'… it’s an incredible feeling and I felt so accomplished, especially because I’m new to the baking world."

What is Clara's secret baking "super power"?

"Multi tasking for sure, I think that’s every woman’s super power!" Clara said.

Read more on The Great British Bake Off 2026 cast:

• Connie
• Danni
• Gabe
• Gary
• Molly
• Moyin
• Mo
• Nikki
• Shannon
• Tom
• Yannis

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.