Bake Off: The Professionals season 5: Channel 4 release date, contestants, and hosts with Stacey Solomon

The fifth season of Bake Off: The Professionals began on Channel 4 on Tuesday 24 May.

Expert judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden returned, as did former The Great British Bake Off competitor Liam Charles as host.

Comedian Tom Allen, however, is being replaced as co-host by Stacey Solomon, who you may recognise from Loose Women and The X Factor.

Here’s everything you need to know about Bake Off: The Professionals.

What is it about?

Much like the amateur version of The Great British Bake Off, bakers are set a series of challenges to prove which of them is the best baker – the only difference is that, as you may have guessed, these competitors are all professional pastry chefs.

Bakers from Manchester, Wiltshire, Cumbria, Birmingham, and London will compete to find out who is the best baker.

Who are the hosts and judges?

Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden will be judging this series of Bake Off: The Professionals, as they have done in previous years. Blin is a chef pâtissier, specialising in desserts, while Finden is an Executive Pastry Chef, sometimes called the Grande Dame of British Pastry.

Liam Charles is a former Bake Off competitor, a fan-favourite from the first Channel 4 series. Since competing that year he’s been a host on Bake Off: The Professionals since it began on Channel 4, and acted as a judge on the Junior Bake Off series.

Stacey Solomon is replacing Tom Allen as co-host. Solomon is a presenter and television personality, appearing regularly on Loose Women as a panellist and host. She also came in third place in the 2009 series of The X Factor, and won the tenth series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! a year after that.

Is there a trailer?

Yes, there is. You can see the trailer for Tuesday 31 May’s episode of Bake Off: The Professionals right here.

When and where can I watch Bake Off: The Professionals?

Bake Off: The Professionals begins on Channel 4 on Tuesday 24 May at 8pm, with new episodes airing weekly.

You’ll also be able to catch up on All4 if you happen to miss an episode.

Is Bake Off: The Professionals back on Tuesdays yet?

Bake Off: The Professionals moved briefly from its usual Tuesday at 8pm Channel 4 home, with its third and forth episodes airing on Monday rather than Tuesday. In each case, it was rescheduled because of a clash with the football.

From 21 June, the series returned to its usual Tuesday at 8pm home, starting with the fifth episode in this current series.

How many episodes is Bake Off: The Professionals?

There are going to be ten episodes to this series of Bake Off: The Professionals, airing weekly on Tuesdays.

Who won Bake Off: The Professionals in 2021?

Michael Coggan and Andrew Minto (from Gin & Bake in Cardiff) won Bake Off: The Professionals in 2021.

How much longer until The Great British Bake Off 2022 airs?

Series 13 of The Great British Bake Off is expected to air this autumn.

Given when previous series of GBBO have begun, it is likely that the series will begin in late September.