WILL THEY ALL RISE TO THE OCCASION?

PICK OF THE WEEK THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm

How much longer will we have to wait until we see a woman win The Great British Bake Off again? Delightful though it was to witness the joy of 20-year-old Peter Sawkins taking the 2020 title to become the youngest winner, it did mean that a man had triumphed for the third year in a row.

Though a demolition of sexist stereotypes, that fact also brings an extra note of competitiveness among the contestants for the show’s 12th series. With an average age of 40, as opposed to 31 in 2019, the line-up includes some formidable women bakers, among them Met Police detective Amanda, giggly retired midwife Maggie – who’s been baking for a mere 60 years – and 19-year-old student Freya, vying to become the new youngest winner and also the first vegan.

As for the men, they have a continental flavour: there’s Jürgen, the precisely spoken German physicist, and moustachioed, Italian-born Giuseppe and proudly AngloGreek North Londoner George.

And the international flavour doesn’t end there, thanks to finance manager Jairzeno, a Trinidadian long settled in Britain, while youthful executive Crystelle is inspired by the baking of her grandmother in Goa.

But if you’re looking out for an unlikely outsider who could go all the way, keep an eye on chirpy Leicestershire telephone sales manager Chigs, who only took up baking during lockdown.

Once again, filming has taken place in a Covid bubble for contestants, judges, presenters Noel Fielding (above, second from left) and Matt Lucas (above, right) and crew. As ever, all the contestants will be hoping for one of those coveted congratulatory handshakes from Paul Hollywood (above left), though he must now concede he is quietly outranked by his fellow judge, after the damehood Prue Leith (second from right) received this summer.

The contest begins with cake week, and to savour every moment, watch The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (Friday, Channel 4, 8pm) to enjoy Jo Brand and guests looking back over the opening episode and interviewing the first baker to leave the tent.