CBC today revealed the amateur bakers who will participate in the upcoming sixth season of THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW (8×60), premiering Sunday, October 2 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Ten bakers from across Canada will face off in the iconic tent and put their culinary chops to the test in an attempt to win The Great Canadian Baking Show title.
Season six of the series will consist of eight episodes, plus one bonus holiday special, and will be hosted once more by comedians, actors, writers and Second City alumni, Alan Shane Lewis and Ann Pornel. Esteemed pastry chefs Bruno Feldeisen and Kyla Kennaley will return to the judges’ table to sample the bakers’ delicious creations.
Based on the beloved British format, each episode will feature the bakers competing in three challenges – the Signature Bake, the Technical Bake, and the Show Stopper – during which they will rely on their personal interests and backgrounds to ensure that their delectable dishes stand out. Once their dishes have been tasted and critiqued, the judges will decide who will be the week’s Star Baker and who will be sent home. In the final episode, the remaining three bakers will face off for the title of Canada’s best amateur baker.
This season, audiences will get acquainted with the show’s most creative batch of bakers yet. Meet the 10 competitors who are hoping to make their dreams crumb true:
- Nigel Batchelor (he/him), 32, a grad student from Winnipeg, MB
- Kristi Carey (she/her), 29, a grant and proposal writer from Toronto, ON
- John Fowler (he/him), 49, a university administrator from Victoria, BC
- Lydiane Gaborieau (she/her), 35, a biobank manager from Montreal, QC
- André Hayde (he/him), 46, an ESL teacher and personal trainer from Ottawa, ON
- Jomar Manzano (he/him), 36, a structural engineer from Toronto, ON
- Chi Nguyễn (they/she), 35, a chief operating officer from Toronto, ON
- Rosemary O’Neill (she/her), 64, a federal security advisor from Ottawa, ON
- Zoya Thawer (she/her), 33, a pediatric endocrinologist from Edmonton, AB
- Lauren Tjoe (she/her), 21, a finance student from Tsawwassen, BC
Season five winner, Vincent Chan, a 55-year-old graphic designer from Mississauga, ON, took home the title and ceremonial cake plate last year after competing against semi-finalists Aimee DeCruyenaere and Steve Levitt. Fans wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth can catch up on seasons one through five on CBC Gem leading up to the season six premiere.
THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW is produced by Boat Rocker’s Proper Television in association with CBC and Love Productions. The executive producers are Cathie James and Lesia Capone, and the series producer is Mark Van de Ven. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; and Susan Taylor is Executive in Charge of Production. The format is owned by Love Productions and distributed by Sky Vision. In addition to the original British series, the format has been produced in 23 territories including the United States, Australia, France and Ireland. THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW is presented with Robin Hood®. The Robin Hood Baking Family consists of a portfolio of leading baking brands.
