The 12th series of the Great British Bake Off (GBBO) begins this week, with 12 bakers vying to be crowned the winner.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back to once again judge the efforts of the bakers, whilst Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas return to offer support.

Channel 4 have broadcasted the programme since 2017 and it has been a great success for them, with the series 11 final drawing in an average audience of 9.2 million.

Considering the place in the culture the GBBO has some might assume there is a reasonable cash prize involved for those who come out on top.

The answer may surprise you.

What is the prize for winning the Great British Bake Off?

Unlike other British cooking shows, such as Masterchef, the winner of the GBBO does not receive a cash prize.

Instead, they receive a branded cake stand and a bouquet of flowers, which viewers would have seen in most GBBO finals.

However, the real prize for those contestants is what comes afterwards.

The status of having won the programme can give them opportunities to launch a new career, such as with writing cookbooks or making appearances on TV and radio, to even having their own show.

Previous winners such as Nadiya Hussein and current Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Whaite are just two examples to have gone onto greater things.