From Bingate to Bread Art: Iain’s Redemptive Return to the Great British Bake Off

A Fresh Start in the Bake Off Tent

The Great British Bake Off is set to return for its sixteenth series in September 2025 on Channel 4, with episodes streaming on Netflix as Collection 13 three days after the UK air date.

Among this year’s contestants is Iain from Belfast, who lives with his girlfriend Dervla and their cat Viktor. A former amateur powerlifter turned baker, he has earned the nickname ‘Yeastie Boy’ for his creative approach to sourdough, where he immortalizes album cover art on his loaf crusts.

A Creative Approach to Baking

Iain’s baking style is characterized by his innovative use of fermented fruits and vegetables to enhance flavor complexity. His experimental nature shines through in his enthusiasm for incorporating pickled, aged, or cultured ingredients into his creations.

When asked about his selection for the show, Iain revealed his initial disbelief: “I got a call a few minutes after being told, and I thought they were going to tell me they made a mistake and I wasn’t actually on the show!”

Redemption Story

Iain’s name might be familiar to long-time Bake Off fans from a controversial incident during the Baked Alaska challenge, where his ice cream was removed from a freezer by another contestant, Diana Beard. The incident led to Iain throwing his melted creation in the bin and his subsequent elimination, sparking viewer outrage.

Now, Iain returns with a clear mission: to rewrite the Great British Baking Show legacy of ‘Iain from Belfast’ once and for all.

The New Season

The 2025 season features 12 contestants ranging in age from 23 to 59, including a diverse mix of professionals such as scientists, engineers, medical students, an amateur drag king, and a pickled food enthusiast.

Contestants will face three rounds each week: the signature challenge, the technical challenge at the gingham altar, and the showstopper round, all while hoping to earn the coveted Paul Hollywood handshake.