Why are David Schwimmer and Tom Daley taking part in Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off?

An Olympian, a ‘Dragon’ and a beloved American walk into a tent…it is not the start to a really bad joke but just some of the impressive line-up for Channel 4’s Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for 2023.

The iconic baking competition returns on Sunday with a host of famous faces alongside Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, to raise both funds and awareness for the disease that affects three million people in the UK currently.

While celebrities such as Gemma Collins, Paddy McGuinness and AJ Odudu will hopefully enjoy sugar and spice and everything nice when competing for the Star Baker award, for others there is a more important reason to participate in the contest - PeopleWorld takes a look:

David Schwimmer

A familiar face from across the pond made the journey to the British countryside to take part in the Stand Up To Cancer’s Great British Bake Off this year. 

David Schwimmer, known from his role as Ross Geller in Friends, is a long time fan of the Channel 4 show and as much as it was a dream come true for the American actor, he also took part in honour of his family.

The 56-year-old explained that he wanted to participate in the charity special not only in memory of his grandma and his ex-wife Zoe Buckman’s mother after they passed away from cancer, but also his sister Ellie who has beaten the disease.

David said: 'I lost a grandmother to cancer, my daughter lost a grandmother to cancer and my sister is a cancer survivor, so it's important to me. I am just grateful I can help in any small way raise more awareness.”

Tom Daley 

Diving is all about precision, timing and accuracy so hopefully Olympian Tom Daley will be able to perfect his baked goods when weighing out his ingredients and baking them for Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

Tom has previously joined forces with Stand Up To Cancer for Gogglebox last year alongside the likes of Gordon and Tilly Ramsay, but now returns with the charity in the Bake Off tent.

The Olympic diver has teamed up with Stand Up To Cancer after his father lost his life to a brain tumour in 2011 - months before he got to see Tom clinch the gold medal at the 2012 Games.

Adele Roberts

For Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, cancer is a cause close to her heart as she recently opened up about her ongoing battle with bowel cancer.

The I’m A Celebrity star shared news about her disease diagnosis in October 2021 and revealed she was undergoing surgery to help her.

In addition to surgery, Adele has gone through chemotherapy to help fight the cancer and documented her journey on Instagram, including the results about how the chemo has impacted her skin.

It must be noted that although audiences will be able to see Adele on Channel 4 on Sunday competing for star baker, Adele is also currently in training for the London Marathon - most recently using her training to run to an MRI scan as she continues to fight cancer.

You can watch David, Tom and Adele among others on Sunday at 7.45pm.