Iain Ross for The Great British Bake Off 2025 / Channel 4
Age: 29
From: Belfast
Occupation: Software Engineer
How did you react to the news that you would be on the show?
“I had no intention of actually getting on Bake Off – when me and my girlfriend Dervla watch every year, she says at the end of every episode that I need to apply. This past year she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I finally caved and applied. Every step of the way I kept it a secret from everyone apart from Dervla, I didn’t think I’d make it to the following stage and I didn’t want to let anyone down. Then when I got the call to confirm my place I was in sheer disbelief, I had no idea it would actually happen. I thought it was a prank at first, I got a call a few minutes after being told and I thought they were going to tell me they made a mistake and I wasn’t actually on the show! I was in the office at work and had to go out to the foyer to take the call and speak in code, everyone who was walking past heading to the toilet looked very concerned and confused.”
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a baker?
“I feel as though I’m a pretty creative baker, and I love to tell a story with my bakes. I’ve been told by a lot of people that my style is very unique, and I know that’s what people say when they don’t want to say something looks bad, but I’ll take it anyway! Anything that requires something to look cool or fun is perfect for me, and I love to take risks and have a bit of a laugh with my bakes. On the other hand, anything that requires precision, good time management, and having multiple plates spinning at once is definitely where I fall short. My brain just doesn’t comprehend that sort of stuff, I’m a very simple wee fella.”
Was it surreal meeting Noel and Alison for the first time?
“Meeting Alison and Noel was the thing I was most excited about in all honesty – the baking and everything else was great, but this was on another level. They are absolutely as they come across on TV, and both of them are just the biggest sweethearts.
“I think it was only my second time meeting Noel, and I somehow managed to spill an entire bottle of espresso on his shoes, and hit him with a massive jar of icing sugar. I was expecting him to be annoyed or angry with me, but he was just the sweetest and came over to see if I was doing okay and he just wanted to have a laugh. I can’t say enough good things about the two of them, they’re an absolute highlight for me.”
How did you feel about your first judging from Paul and Prue?
“I was so nervous having Paul and Prue judge my bake for the first time. I had practised over and over my description of it in the mirror the night before, just in case I messed it up. I had absolutely no idea if they would like it or not, I had eaten so much of it that I ended up not liking it myself, so watching them take the first bite was absolutely terrifying.”
The Great British Bake Off begins Tuesday night at 8pm on Channel 4.
