‘The kids inspire us!'

Judges Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles on the ‘awesome’ youngsters in the Junior Bake Off tent

- Caren Clark

JUNIOR BAKE OFF

NEW MON-FRI / C4 / 5PM / EPS 1-5 of 15 / COOKERY

There’s a brand-new judge in the tent when The Great British Bake Off ’s spin-off Junior Bake Off returns to C4 this week.

Hosted again by comic Harry Hill, this year’s contest sees pastry chef Ravneet Gill replace Prue Leith to oversee the bakes with returning judge Liam Charles.

The 15-part series, airing every weekday over the next three weeks, sees a fresh batch of 16 contestants aged between nine and 15 enter the white tent of baking dreams to tackle tricky Technicals and sensational Showstoppers, with the first heat themed around cakes.

Here, Liam, 23, and Ravneet, 28, tell us what’s on the menu…

Ravneet, how did you feel about joining the Junior Bake Off team as the new judge?

RAVNEET: I was shocked and excited. I could never have dreamt of being on a baking show on TV! When I knew I was taking over from Prue, I was nervous, because she’s such an icon. I’ve grown up in awe of her. But she sent me a lovely message. I decided not to watch the previous series so I could go into the tent as a blank canvas and just be myself. So the first day, I didn’t know what to expect – it was a whirlwind.

And did you and Liam enjoy working together?