Who is Shannon? Meet The Great British Bake Off 2026 contestant and project planner
As The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4, there are 12 new bakers ready to cook up something special in order to impress new judge Nigella Lawson, and land that all-important Hollywood Handshake from Paul.
Putting all their skills to the test is essential, but can project planner and scheduler Shannon transfer their skills in the office to the tent? Or will they melt under the pressure?
At least they have plenty of support along the way – something new judge Nigella Lawson noted she enjoyed seeing given the competition setting.
"Can I tell you what I think is really lovely? It's the bakers are so supportive of one another," she told Radio Times and other press. "I never saw any enmity, hostility. I mean, obviously, you need to be competitive to go on Bake Off, but they do support one another, and like the ones who get sent home, they do send messages of support to the ones who are still there and everything. It's so heartwarming."
Ahead of her debut in the tent, here's everything you need to know about Shannon, including her baking super power.
Age: 29
Location: Gloucestershire
Job: Project planner and scheduler
Shannon is a 29-year-old project planner and scheduler from Gloucestershire who dreams of bringing "a little forest magic" to the Bake Off tent.
A nature-loving foodie who grew up in Bristol, Shannon now lives in the countryside with her fiancé Scott, her two black Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Tyrone the tortoise.
She has been baking for as long as she can remember, taught by her beloved Nan, and describes her style as whimsical, quirky and rustic.
Shannon described being on Bake Off as a "dream" and was actually a back-up baker for the 2025 season after her fiancé sent in an application on her behalf.
"When applications opened again, I applied with the mindset that if it’s meant to be, it will be," she said.
"I sent my application off the moment submissions went live, enjoyed the whole process again, and then suddenly… everything changed.
"I was working from home when my phone rang. I answered, fully expecting it to be a polite 'thank you but not this year.' Instead, I heard the words: 'You’re going to be seeing a lot more of us — you’re in the tent this year.'"
What is Shannon's secret baking "super power"?
Shannon loves to make people feel at home with her baking, admitting that's her superpower.
"I love creating flavours that take people back to happy memories, those little moments of nostalgia that make you pause and smile," she said.
"My fiancé Scott always says that when I make fresh bread with proper salted butter, it tastes exactly like how his grandad used to make it. Hearing that brings me so much joy, because it’s like my baking gives him a moment with someone he loved.
"My superpower is bringing smiles out of nowhere, letting the good vibes flow, and helping people make new happy memories while revisiting old ones. That’s the magic of baking for me."
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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