The big Christmas Bake Off program 2023 What are the stars

The big Christmas Bake-Off program 2023: What are the stars of the festive special so far?

Christmas is just around the corner and with it the big Christmas baking in 2023.

A number of fan favorites will make a comeback to the delicious show on Christmas Eve.

Loyal judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be keeping a close eye on the festive baked goods.

Comedians Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond provide light-hearted humor.

But who brings the sweet treats? Web takes a look at the bakers returning to the Bake Off special.

Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith return to the tent for the baking show's Christmas special on December 24th

Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith return to the tent for the baking show's Christmas special on December 24th

But who brings the sweet treats?  MailOnline takes a look at the bakers returning for the festive special

But who brings the sweet treats? Web takes a look at the bakers returning for the festive special

Sophie Faldo

Sophie Faldo took the Bake Off crown in the 2017 season of the show (pictured left to right: Prue Leith, Sophie and Paul Hollywood)

Sophie Faldo took the Bake Off crown in the 2017 season of the show (pictured left to right: Prue Leith, Sophie and Paul Hollywood)

1703444786 171 The big Christmas Bake Off program 2023 What are the stars

Sophie was previously in the army and dreamed of becoming a stuntwoman. She now runs her own cake company called Sophie Faldo Couture Cakes (pictured in 2018).

Sophie Faldo won the Bake Off crown in the 2017 season. Before taking part in the show, she was an army officer.

According to HuffPost, the Bake Off winner left regular army service in 2012 and has been a reservist and personal fitness trainer ever since.

Sophie told The Sun: “I know it sounds really crazy but actually I don't like not touring.”

After her win, Sophie hoped to enter the stunt world while pursuing a thriving cooking career.

She said: “I never thought I would make it to the final, let alone win, so I'm not sure where I'll go from here.”

“It would be wonderful to write a patisserie book, but let's see what comes next.” “I'd like to try traveling the world to get some inspiration to get started.”

Her win is perhaps best remembered for a major faux pas by guest judge Prue Leith, who accidentally announced Sophie's win 12 hours before the show because she had not taken the time difference into account while on holiday.

She now runs her own business called Sophie Faldo Couture Cakes.

Amelia Le Bruin

1703444788 277 The big Christmas Bake Off program 2023 What are the stars

Amelia appeared in the 2019 series but failed at the Bread Week hurdle as her Tear and Share bread wasn't quite up to par (pictured).

Amelia was inspired to bake by her mother and grandmother as a child and went on to open her own cake business called The Cake Hun London

Amelia was inspired to bake by her mother and grandmother as a child and went on to open her own cake business called The Cake Hun London

We only got to see Amelia briefly during her appearance on the series in 2019 before she was eliminated in the third episode.

The Halifax baker stumbled across Bread Week as she struggled to get Tear and Share exposed and her showstopper was branded “horrible” and “clumsy”.

The fashion designer was inspired to start baking by her grandmother and mother, who created beautiful sweet treats.

While studying in Leeds and then Leicester, she honed her baking skills and practiced for charities and friends.

She previously worked as a sportswear designer and currently lives in the city of London.

She also runs her own online bakery called The Cake Hun London.

Dan Beasley Harling

Dan Beasley-Harling had a great few weeks on the show but fell flat when the dreaded Pastry Week came around (pictured)

Dan Beasley-Harling had a great few weeks on the show but fell flat when the dreaded Pastry Week came around (pictured)

The stay-at-home dad admitted his experience was

The stay-at-home dad admitted his experience was “an absolute nightmare” but since the show he has continued baking and sharing his own recipes

Dan Beasley-Harling appeared on the baking competition series in 2018.

During the competition, the stay-at-home dad had a great few weeks, but soon fell apart when Pastry Week came around.

Since his time on the show, he has built a successful career as a baker, frequently posting his creations on Instagram and sharing recipes on his own website.

However, the first time wasn't the most pleasant experience for Dan, who described the show as “incredibly stressful.”

In 2022, he told Yahoo UK: “To be honest, the experience of being in the tent is an absolute nightmare – I'm anxious and a perfectionist by nature.”

“If you’re feeling good, that’s great, but most of the time you’re in panic mode.”

He continued: “So that countdown when you're told you've got a minute left – all that scrambling is very real. 'It comes down to the wire that has seconds left.'

Linda Rayfield

Linda Rayfield was bursting with excitement as Pastry Week came around, only to fiddle with her specialty (pictured)

Linda Rayfield was bursting with excitement as Pastry Week came around, only to fiddle with her specialty (pictured)

Since the show, Linda has continued her passion for baking and also opened up emotionally about the tragic death of her 18-year-old daughter Melissa (pictured: Linda).

Since the show, Linda has continued her passion for baking and also opened up emotionally about the tragic death of her 18-year-old daughter Melissa (pictured: Linda).

Linda starred in the 2020 series and sparked emotions among fans when she baked a cake in memory of her late daughter.

She was a fan favorite despite only being five episodes in after everything went wrong during the dreaded Pastry Week.

At the beginning of the week, Linda was bursting with excitement because pastries were one of her specialties.

But the Retirement Living team leader struggled through the competition after fiddling with her gypsy cake in the cage.

As she left the show, Linda confessed that she wasn't “sad” as she had a wonderful experience on the show, comparing it to “a kid in Disneyland.”

In 2021, the Bake Off star shared a tearful tribute on Instagram to her late daughter Melissa, who died aged 18 from dementia.

She wrote: “She was 18 when she died and it was only recently that I realized she had dementia when I became a Dementia Friend and learned more about the condition.”

“Knowing wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but I would have understood every time she looked at me blankly and cried so desperately that she probably didn’t recognize me.”

“This breaks my heart because throughout her life I have protected her, comforted her and we have shared so many wonderful memories and in the end I feel like I have let her down.”

“People with dementia rely on their long-term memory and some of them have been quite traumatic.”

Linda has continued to bake since the show and often presents her creations.

Carol Edwards

Dorset-born keen gardener Carole proved a fan favorite despite only leaving five weeks into the show (pictured).

Dorset-born keen gardener Carole proved a fan favorite despite only leaving five weeks into the show (pictured).

Since her departure she has been touring with the Great British Bake Off and continues to share her delicious baked goods on Instagram (pictured: Paul Hollywood and Carole).

Since her departure she has been touring with the Great British Bake Off and continues to share her delicious baked goods on Instagram (pictured: Paul Hollywood and Carole).

Dorset native Carole left the series during the fifth episode – Dessert Week – after her steamed pudding and lemon meringue cake went sour.

The avid gardener – also known as Compost Carol – even had her own radio segment where she gave listeners gardening tips.

Carole is originally from West County and was a supermarket employee prior to the 2022 competition.

Popular with fans, Carole took part in the Great British Bake Off tour in 2023 and continues to post her gardening expertise and baking tips on Instagram.

Carole reflected on and shared her first Bake Off experience Xformerly known as Twitter: “I had an amazing journey on the show and the memories will stay with me forever.”

“I was never convinced I could do something like this, but it taught me to embrace more challenging opportunities, and when you're out there…yes, you can do it.”