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Cape Town – It’s the moment bakers across the country have been waiting for - The Great South African Bake Off returns exclusively to BBC Lifestyle on Tuesday, 17 October.
Series three welcomes brand new co-judge, award winning chef and TV personality Zola Nene alongside Tjaart Walraven, in the latest search to find and crown this year’s Star Baker.
The competition will provide plenty of inspiration and delicious fun as the amateurs go all out to impress the judges, ultimately hoping to bake their way to the final.
No matter what the theme, all the bakers must deliver a show-stopping, mouth-watering creation. But after nine weeks of whisking, rolling and piping, only one can emerge victorious.
Hilarious duo Lentswe Bhengu and Anne Hirsch will once again present all of the fun and flops in the now iconic Bake Off tent.
Meet the bakers here:
Desmond George Solomon
Hometown: Johannesburg
Occupation: Labour and HR Consultant
Desmond’s inspiration for baking comes from his Lebanese ancestry and family parties at his granny’s, where his whole family enjoyed their traditional home baked cakes.
Alice Chan
Hometown: Pretoria
Occupation: Senior Lecturer and researcher at University of Pretoria
Alice found her passion for baking when she moved to South Africa over 25 years ago. Whilst learning English, her teacher would bring in cakes and share recipes, which opened up a whole new world and passion.
Ameer Cloete
Hometown: Cape Town
Occupation: Studying Bachelor of Education
Ameer’s love of baking came from the sheer enjoyment of experimenting in the kitchen and finding out what works and what doesn’t.
Bianca Breytenbach
Hometown: Cape Town
Occupation: Social Worker
Three years ago, Bianca offered to make a cake for her friend’s child’s first birthday and ever since has been baking non-stop and loves it.
Cameron Snyman
Hometown: Durban
Occupation: Self Employed
Family is what first got Cameron into baking and ever since primary school it has been a passion.
Kershni Naidoo
Hometown: Pietermaritzburg
Occupation: Home Executive
Since becoming a mum over five years ago, the challenge of making perfect birthday cakes is what first got Kershni into the kitchen and baking.
Khanya Mchunu
Hometown: Ladysmith
Occupation: Community Development Officer
Originally inspired to bake by her grandmother as a child, it was just under a year ago that Khanya got seriously into baking. Thanks to learning from her grandmother, Khanya doesn’t even own a pair of kitchen measuring scales.
Sibongile Mhlaba
Hometown: Johannesburg
Occupation: Freelance interior designer / psychology student
Since watching how to make a Baked Alaska on TV and then recreating it that very night with her own twist, Sibongile has always had a passion for cooking and is motivated to make good food and cakes for those she cares for.
Simmi Ramnarian
Hometown: Durban
Occupation: sales / reception
Simmi has been baking for over 30 years and it has always been a pastime that has given her a lot of enjoyment. Her main pleasure in baking is making biscuits.
Gerrard Kistanna
Hometown: Johannesburg
Occupation: Medical laboratory professional
Gerrard was first inspired to get into the kitchen and bake thanks to his mum and her delicious cakes. It was only six years ago, however, that he started to properly get into baking and put his skills to the test.
Madeline Kriel
Hometown: Bredasdorp
Occupation: Grade 12 Learner
From growing up on a farm and helping her mother in the kitchen, Madeline discovered that she has a knack for baking and has really got into experimenting in the kitchen – but in her eyes, nothing beats a classic chocolate cake.
Bryan Bergsteedt
Hometown: Cape Town
Occupation: Human Anatomy lecturer at Stellenbosch University
Thanks to his mother forever being in the kitchen and rustling up sweet delights, Bryan has loved baking from a young age with his twin brother.
Watch The Great South African Bake Off weekly from Tuesday, 17 October on BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) at 20:00.
(Photos: Supplied by Total Exposure)
