Tom for The Great British Bake Off S17 / © Love Productions
Age: 25
From: West Yorkshire
Job: Hairdresser
How did you react when you found out you would be taking part in this year’s show?
“I have dreamed about being on Bake Off for so long that I kind of knew one day I would get on. I never imagined it would be the first year I applied that I would get on. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. Throughout the whole application process whenever one step was completed, I just thought to myself ‘right that will be the last one and they won’t be contacting me again’ but I couldn’t believe it when it kept on going.
“I think I just said ‘omg omg omg omg omg’ over and over again, then I bought a bottle of prosecco on my way home to surprise my boyfriend with the news.”
What was going through your mind when you saw the big white tent for the first time?
“For me the tent was everything I expected it to be. I just remember seeing it and having butterflies in my stomach and feeling really giddy. Walking to my bench for the first time just felt so surreal. It reminded me of walking to my station in food tech in high school but 100x better.”
How was it having Nigella as part of the show?
“I’ve been obsessed with Nigella for so long so I was so happy to have her as a judge. I always used to watch her festive specials with my dad. Also, when I used to sleep over at my nan’s I used to get up on a Sunday morning and watch her show on the food network, so I’ve always been a really big Nigella fan.”
How was your first judging session with Nigella and Paul?
“The first judging shook me to my core, I stayed calm on the outside but inside my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I was so nervous. The odd thing with the judging was that when I was presenting my bakes it never felt or maybe clicked that they were actually eating my bakes. It’s really hard to describe but when they were eating my bakes I’d look at them and think why are you judging me on this random cake I haven’t baked – even though obviously I had.”
The Great British Bake Off returns Tuesday, September 22 at 8pm on Channel 4.
