The Great British Bake Off 2024 hosts, start date and what time it is on TV

A new series of our favourite baking show is on its way. The Great British Bake Off (GBBO) is back for its 15th series, with the first episode kicking off this week.

Created by 4creative as well as Nexus, Lex Down, who is the Deputy Executive Creative Director said: "The Great British Bake Off is comfort telly at its best. We wanted our campaign to reflect this and deliver its own slice of cakey warmth and joy. We created pin badges adorned with bright baking illustrations and messages of positivity, and in a Great British Bake Off first created a fully animated world rich with detail that reveals different delights with each watch."

All the familiar faces are returning. Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will be back to rate the contestants bakes, with presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding also making a welcome return. Sharing her cheeky thoughts on working with Noel, This Morning star Alison said: "she "can't predict" what he will do next.

READ MORE: Great British Bake Off star dies aged 61 as Paul Hollywood pays tribute

Speaking to The Sun, Alison said: "Unlike with Dermot (her This Morning co presenter) where I can predict what he's going to say I can read his mind with Noel, I can't predict what he's going to say or do." She joked: "It's really frustrating! But we've got the same sense of humour which is a little bit naughty."

Prue is now a firm favourite with Bake Off viewers and helped offer a seamless transition from Mary Berry stepping aside to a new judge taking over. But she recently admitted that she nearly didn't apply to replace fan-favourite Mary Berry as she feared she would not tick the "diversity boxes."

Prue replaced Mary in 2016. Speaking on Sliding Doors podcast with Jennie Becker, she explained: "I just jumped at it. I had begun to think about it, once I knew Mary Berry was not going to go on. I thought: 'Oh, I'd love that job', but I dismissed the thought. I thought 'They'll get someone younger, someone more... probably a young Asian chef or something, that would tick all the diversity boxes and stuff'. But no, they chose me."

The 12 new contestants will be entering the tent this year to prove they are the best baker. Who will be the first to get 'star baker' and that all-important Paul Hollywood handshake? One thing is certain, Viewers can expect lots of thrills and spills, ups and downs along the way.

Speaking of Mr Hollywood, while contestants will be very eager to impress the respected chef, he has warned the new hopefuls to beware, saying: “When you’ve made a cake for a friend, they’ll say, ‘Thank you very much’.

“Suddenly they come against us two. We give it both barrels. “But you know, I’ll call it what it is. If it’s good, it’s good, if it’s bad, it’s bad. I don’t mince my words," reports the Mirror.

Viewers can catch the first episode of the new series of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, from this Tuesday (September 24), at 8pm