AN IT professional from Sussex is among the 12 contestants battling it out on this year’s Great British Bake Off.
The popular Channel 4 series will return on Tuesday, September 21, and ahead of next week’s series opener, the full contestant list has been revealed.
Jurgen, who is originally from the Black Forest in Germany, moved to the UK in 2003 and now lives with his wife and son overlooking the sea.
The 56-year-old first took up baking after being unable to find traditional German bread in his adopted home – and his passion for baking has grown ever since.
Jurgen said he never dreamt he would actually get into the Bake Off tent and could not believe it when he received the call confirming his place.
He said: “When the call came, I had a whole mix of feelings: being very excited, the floor dropping under my feet, and, ‘Do I really want to do this?’
“Seeing the tent for the first time, going into it and touching those benches. From then on it felt real.
“On the first day of filming - entering the tent for the first day of the competition, it was very different from what I expected.
“We were all very excited and were a very chatty group. This helped feeling relaxed despite being the focus of every person on the set.”
Jurgen is well-known for his Jewish challah bread, and for the celebration cakes that he loves to bake for friends and family.
He says that while lockdown was tough, he took the opportunity to develop his baking skills further.
He said: “My family was very cautious, we avoided shops where we could.
“As a result, I baked every bread and cake we ate during lockdown. And my baking certainly improved as a result.”
Outside of baking, Jurgen prides himself on being a talented trombonist – a talent he has passed on to his son.
- READ MORE: Worthing Love Island star Amy Hart to debut in Christmas panto
- READ MORE: Council investigating Domino's in London Road, Brighton after fly eggs found on food
He said: “If I had to make a selfie biscuit of myself, it would be me holding a trombone in front of rolling hills.
“I love playing music and I love to be in nature.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the series has been yet again filmed in a Covid secure bubble.
Hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding will return, among with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Episode one is set to air on Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday, 21 September.
Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.
Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.
You can also call us on 01273 021 400.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel