'Bake Off is the best thing I've ever done'

The new series of Great British Bake Off begins on Channel 4 on Tuesday

A man who is taking part in the new series of Great British Bake Off has described the experience as the "best thing I've ever done".

Aaron Mountford-Myles, from Sneyd Green in Stoke-on-Trent, applied to the show on a whim and is now one of 12 bakers heading to the famous Bake Off tent.

He will be hoping to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood when the new series begins later on Channel 4.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, Aaron said being on the show was "crazy" and that "time moves differently" when contestants are inside the tent.

Aaron Mountford-Myles first applied to take part in the show eight years ago

Aaron said he first applied to take part in Bake Off about eight years ago, but did not get through.

He applied again in 2019 but broke his hand so was unable to take part, before applying again this year.

Speaking of his time on the series, Aaron, who works in architecture, said it was the "most fun you've probably ever had."

He said the nerves kicked in as the time dwindled away, and even more so when the contestants were waiting for their creations to be judged.

"Baking's just the hobby, I've just always done it because I like to eat. I absolutely love food," he said.

"Also, I hate the thought of going somewhere, trying something and knowing that I have to go back to that place to try it.

"So, I'll go home, practice it myself until I get it right – then I've always got it there if I ever want it again."

Toby Littlewood, from Warwick, said seeing the Bake Off tent was "really daunting"

The bakers will take part in 'cake week' when the programme returns to TV screens, with Swiss rolls and fondant fancies among items on the menu.

Another contestant, Toby Littlewood from Warwick, described seeing the Bake Off tent for the first time as "really daunting".

He told BBC CWR he got into baking after spending time around his nan, who he said bakes a lot.

"But also just coming home from school and being hungry and trying to rustle something up with things that we had in the cupboards," he explained.

"It's kind of been a spiral from those years I think."

Toby, who works for a fitness start-up, was inspired to apply for Bake Off as he had decided he wanted to do "something interesting" around the time of his 30th birthday.

"It's just one of things, you watch it [the show] every year and people around me say that I should do something like this," he said.

"This year, I just went for it."