The Great British Bake Off 2026 first look shows Paul left speechless by one contestant

New baker Danni gets off to an impressive start in The Great British Bake Off tent as the show returns this week.

The new season of the beloved show, which is set to kick off on Tuesday (22 September), will see Danni and 11 other contestants entering the tent in the hopes of impressing returning presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, and, more importantly, the all-new judging duo, Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood.

The first challenge of the series will see the bakers tasked with recreating one of Nigella’s most beloved recipes: the iconic stout cake.

And for Danni, the task looks to be a piece of cake. In an exclusive clip shared with Radio Times, Paul asks Danni how they’re feeling, to which they respond: "I’m actually feeling alright."

They continue: "They’re in the oven. I’m a bit bored really, actually," to which Paul responds in disbelief: "You’re bored?"

You can watch the clip for yourself above.

It was confirmed earlier this year that Lawson would be joining the series as a judge, replacing Leith who decided to step down after almost a decade on the show.

In a statement at the time, Lawson said she was "uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now!"

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

She continued: "Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement. The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it.

"I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!"

The Great British Bake Off returns on Tuesday 22 September at 8pm on Channel 4.

Add The Great British Bake Off to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.