'Twill be the night before Christmas, at 8.25pm on Channel 4, when five celebrities go head-to-head in The Great British Bake Off festive special. With Matt Lucas – who last week hung up his presenting apron – and Noel Fielding at the helm, and Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith back in the tent, the Bake Off first-timers will be determined to impress and win Christmas Star Baker. Who are they?
Blackadder actor Tony Robinson, 76
‘I had such a wonderful time @britishbakeoff, made four brilliant new friends for life and made a chunk of cash for charity to boot! You can watch us on @channel4, Christmas Eve, 8:25pm,’ he wrote on Instagram (pictured second right).
Presenter Gaby Roslin, 58
Sharing her excitement, Gaby gushed, ‘AT LAST! I can share the very exciting news that I am actually taking part in “The Great Christmas Bake Off”. You can watch it on Saturday 24th December, Christmas Eve at 8.25pm on Channel 4. And I have never ever baked a cake before, let alone followed a recipe to make one! I cannot begin to tell you what a massive thrill this is for me. I have watched this show from day 1 and never ever imagined I’d be taking part!’
Broadcaster Terry Christian, 62
He joked, ‘No I didn't serve Prue Leith a fairy cake containing pubic hair. Those days are long gone :-)’.
Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, 51
‘Thrilled to be part of the Christmas special for @britishbakeoff celebrating 40 years of Channel 4. Had so much fun. It’s on Christmas Eve, 8.25 pm on @channel4,’ she said. Claire also credited Noel for calming her down and making her laugh, adding that she ‘loved the show’.
Presenter Miquita Oliver, 38
‘CHANNEL 4 is my home. It is where, at 15 years old, I started broadcasting,' she enthused. 'So I was completely thrilled to be part of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - celebrating 40 years of @channel4 Very proud of POPWORLD to be mentioned in the same breath as genre changing television like THE WORD, TIME TEAM and THE BIG BREAKFAST. Coming to you CHRISTMAS EVE !!!! 8.25, CHANNEL 4’.
Baking won't be the only highlight of this Christmas special, as it will also feature a gorgeous performance of Swan Lake by the English National Ballet.
Bake Off New Year Special
GBBO will then be on hand to cure those January blues - and hangovers - with another special airing on New Year's Day at 7.40pm.
Taking part to win the first Star Baker prize of 2023 are:
Lottie Bedlow (Series 11)
'Sucker for punishment me…but what a pleasure it was to go back and bake with these legends. So good to see the crew and team again too - now we know @realmattlucas is leaving, it feels extra special that we had another chance to be in the tent with him and @noel_fielding ! X
'Tune in to see @britishbakeoff on New Year’s Day at 7.40pm on @channel4 for the New Year’s Eve hangover cure you didn’t know you needed x' she wrote.
Chigs Parmar (Series 12)
Teasing his return, he wrote, 'Guess who’s back in the tent for “The Great New Year’s Bake Off”
Getting the opportunity to be in the Bake Off tent once is a dream come true, but baking in it twice...'.
Manon Legrève (Series 9)
The Frenchwoman wrote, 'Wow it was an experience to be back in the tent after 4 years! But what a blast I had, and it was amazing to see the team again. Now, you are going to have to guess whether I did well for Paul & @prueleith !'
Antony Amourdoux (Series 9)
'In for one last hurrah in the very coveted British Tent w. Some fab bakers,' he shared on Instagram.