Danni, an HGV service centre administrator from Dorset, is among the 12 new bakers joining the 17th series of The Great British Bake Off. They revealed their application was made “on a whim” after being repeatedly urged by others to take part. The new series, which introduces Nigella Lawson as a judge, airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday night.
Danni Great British Bake Off Journey Begins on a Whim
Danni, 25, who lives with their parents, sister and three cocker spaniels in Dorset, told BBC Radio Solent’s Dorset Breakfast show about the “funny story” behind applying. “I got sick of people telling me that so I was like ‘fine, I’ll apply’ and then I’ll get rejected and then I’ll be like ‘well, I tried, oh dear’,” Danni explained, describing how friends would suggest they apply “no matter how good the actual bake is” when bringing baked goods to functions. Ahead of the first episode, Danni expressed their excitement, stating to the BBC: “It’s going to be so, so fun – I’m definitely watching it. It’s going to be so good.”
Meet the New Bake Off Contestant: Danni’s Baking Style and Challenges
The Great British Bake Off website describes Danni as “naturally curious and experimental” with a love of foraging. According to Radio Times, Danni combines foraged ingredients such as magnolia, chestnut, and dandelion with global flavours like ube and red bean paste. Danni is also a tech enthusiast, drawing inspiration from video games and animation for decorating bakes. They also enjoy soldering broken traces on their Commodore 64. When asked about their baking range, Danni stated, “I bake anything and everything. I do love baking so much. I’ll make sausage rolls one week and the next week it’ll be some sort of croquembouche.”
Filming the series during the hot summer presented its own set of difficulties. Danni hinted at the challenges, saying: “I won’t say how, but the weather certainly did present a challenge.” Despite this, Danni praised the camaraderie within the tent, describing everyone as “so nicies all the time and they are so lovely.” Their secret baking superpower, according to Radio Times, is perseverance, with Danni explaining that failing provides an opportunity to learn.
New Series Details and Judges
The new series, the 17th iteration of the contest, features 12 new amateur bakers hoping to impress the judges. Other contestants include diverse backgrounds such as a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser, and a drag artist.
Nigella Lawson joins the judging panel, replacing Dame Prue Leith after nine years on the show. Paul Hollywood also returns as a judge. Paul Hollywood told Radio Times that the bar for entry is extremely high, remarking that contestants “almost have to be professional just to get into the tent.”