Sculptor from Cornwall joins new series of The Great British Bake Off

Single dad Marc started baking after losing a leg in a motorbike accident

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 15th Sep 2020

The contestants in the new series of The Great British Bake Off have been revealed, and one is from Cornwall.

Marc is a bronze resin sculptor from the Duchy.

The 51-year-old took up baking as a form of therapy after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident four years ago.

He is one of 12 contestants entering the famous Bake Off tent, as the new series starts next week.

This year, under exceptional circumstances, the twelve new bakers entered a bubble for seven weeks in order to make the competition happen.

The iconic tent remains the same, but there are 30 brand new challenges set by Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

Marc from Cornwall will be entering the Bake Off tent

About Marc, the contestant from Cornwall:

Marc decided to enter Bake Off in a bid to show his daughters that even when life throws obstacles at you, you can rise to new challenges and develop new passions.

Born and raised in Leicester, but now living in Cornwall, fervent climber Marc spent his youth travelling the world and conquering mountains, before settling back in the UK and becoming a landscape photographer.

Personal tragedy, including losing his leg in a motorbike accident in 2016, led him to baking bread as a form of therapy, and from there he came to baking cakes and pastries.

From palmiers and chausson aux pommes to opera cakes and millefeuille, his bakes now show true finesse.

He’s a support worker and single parent, and, with his daughters cheer him on, he’s taken up climbing again.

About the first episode:

Hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas kick off the series with Cake Week. First, in the signature, the bakers get the opportunity to put their twist on the classic Battenberg.

Next, under the gingham cloth are the ingredients for the first technical; turning out a fruit sponge, that’s one of Paul’s favourites.

Finally, a showstopper that gives the bakers a chance to express their creativity, as they pay tribute to their heroes. An opportunity for the judges to see what inspires this year’s bakers, and whether they have the skills to translate it into cake.

Twelve bakers in the bubble. Three challenges. Only one will be crowned star baker, and sadly one will be going home.

The new series of The Great British Bake Off starts at 8pm on 22nd September on Channel 4.