Baker hopes to hit right note as part of Bake Off's new dozen

A MUSIC-LOVING cake-maker from Swansea will be joining the tent in this year’s upcoming series of the Great British Bake Off.

- BRANWEN JONES & HANNAH ROBERTS

The 12 bakers include a roller skating drag king and a creative entrepreneur, and flying the Welsh flag will be 59-year-old Leighton.

The lineup has been announced for series 16 ahead of the return of the baking contest on Channel 4 next month. Originally from Swansea, software delivery manager Leighton, now lives in Surrey, but there are hopes he will bring a Welsh twist to his bakes. He is said to enjoy playing with traditional Welsh, British and American flavours, such as Welsh cakes with peanut butter and Victoria Sponge with key lime pie filling, according to Digital Spy.

As Great British Bake Off revealed this year’s contestants, Leighton’s profile said that he was “usually found belting Les Mis while baking”. The 59-year-old lives in Surrey with his Californian husband Eric and their Irish Terrier called Cilla.

With a mathematical mind, Leighton is guided in both life and baking by the approach that “anything can be done with a formula”.

The description says that proud Welshman Leighton has always done things his own way, ignoring anyone that told him ‘boys don’t bake’!

He told the Mirror: “Never in a million years did I think I’d actually get into the Bake Off tent. I know everyone says that, but it’s true!

“I absolutely love baking - all kinds, all styles - and I'm very much a weekend baker who bakes for friends, family, and my work colleagues. It’s always been a passion, but I never imagined it would lead me to the tent.”