Contestants don aprons for big TV challenge

Two Great British Bake Off contestants from the Westcountry will be among those vying for the ultimate TV cookery prize, writes Hannah Roberts

- Hannah Roberts

A ROLLER skating drag king from Cornwall and a business executive from Devon are among those competing on this year's series of The Great British Bake Off.

Twelve bakers, including two hairdressers and a creative entrepreneur, have been announced for series 16, ahead of the return of the baking contest on Channel 4.

Drag king and service designer Jessika, who was raised in Cornwall, said she was alone at her friend’s house when she got the call to be in the show.

The 32-year-old said: “Seeing the big white tent for the first time was so weird. I've watched the show for years, and entertained the idea that, potentially, maybe, one day, this girl could quite possibly bake up a storm for the judges.

“It didn’t really hit me until I was standing at my workstation, apron on, looking around at the other bakers and thinking: ‘Well, girl, you made it!’”

In an instagram post, Jessika wrote: “As an amateur baker, this is something I’ve wanted for the longest time, and still can’t quite believe it's happened.”