The Great Christmas Bake Off 2024 line-up: Confirmed contestants

As a seasoned viewer of soaps and reality shows, I must admit that The Great British Bake Off Christmas Special has always been a delightful blend of two worlds I adore. This year, however, it seems like Santa Claus himself has hand-picked a cast straight from the soap operas’ pantheon!

Despite having wrapped up its season on TV a few months ago, The Great British Bake Off is set to return with a festive special featuring a fresh group of celebrities competing to earn the title “Star Baker.

This upcoming holiday special will feature five soap opera actors showcasing their baking talents within the confines of the tent.

The well-known cast members encompass Dean Gaffney, Sheree Murphy, Shobna Gulati, Natalie Cassidy, and Chris Bisson – each hailing from distinct realms within the television soap opera universe.

Curious about the stars who’ll be gracing the stage during the holiday-themed episode of The Great British Bake Off? Here’s all you need to find out!

Dean Gaffney

Age: 46

Instagram: @deangaffney1

Soap: EastEnders

This year, Dean Gaffney, famously recognized for portraying Robbie Jackson on the BBC soap opera “EastEnders,” is among two celebrities from that show competing in the Bake Off tent. He first appeared as Robbie from 1993 to 2003, and then again from 2017 to 2019.

Sheree Murphy

Age: 49

Instagram: @shereemurphy

Soap: Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Neighbours.

Sheree Murphy gained recognition as an actress, primarily for her diverse performances in multiple soap operas and British comedies.

From 1998 to 2004, she portrayed Tricia Dingle on Emmerdale; from 2010 to 2011, she played Eva Strong in Hollyoaks; and in both 2014 and 2018, she took on the role of Dakota Davies in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Shobna Gulati

Age: 58

Instagram: @shobnagulati

Soap: Coronation Street

Shobna Gulati gained significant recognition through her portrayal of Anita in the series ‘dinnerladies’, and also as Sunita Alahan in ‘Coronation Street’. The departure of her character from the latter show left many viewers still mourning.

Apart from her TV roles, Shobna boasts an impressive theater resume as well. Some of the productions she’s been involved in are “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice,” and “Hullraisers.

Her other TV work includes Inside No.9, Doctor Who and Midsomer Murders.

Natalie Cassidy

Age: 41

Instagram: @natcass1

Soap: EastEnders

Currently, Natalie Cassidy plays the beloved character Sonia Fowler on EastEnders. However, her on-screen persona is temporarily behind bars due to an unjust accusation against her.

Apart from EastEnders, Cassidy has made appearances on The Catherine Tate Show, Strictly Come Dancing, and Psychoville, a series where she shared the screen with Dawn French and Eileen Atkins.

Chris Bisson

Age: 49

Instagram: @chrisbisson

Soap: Coronation Street and Emmerdale

Currently, Chris Bisson plays the character Jai Sharma on Emmerdale, a part he’s held since 2009. However, prior to this long-running role, he made an appearance in Coronation Street from 1999 to 2002, portraying Vikran Desai.

Beyond his soap career, Chris has appeared in Shameless, East Is East and Casualty.

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2024-12-25 13:37