The Great British Bake Off is looking for contestants

The Great British Bake Off is back for a fifth series next summer – and the programme makers are on the hunt for contestants.

Produced for the BBC by Love Productions, the show is “looking to find great bakers from all over the UK”.

Series four, which aired from late August 20 to November 1, was won by Frances Quinn. Over 15 weekly episodes, 13 bakers took part in weekly ‘bake offs’, which tested every aspect of their baking skills, as they battled it out to be crowned the Great British Bake Off’s Best Amateur Baker.

Applicants for the new series must be 16 years of age and over on 1 February 2014 and must be a resident of the UK (including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands). As amateur bakers, applicants’ main source of income cannot come from commercial baking in a professional environment and they cannot have ever worked full-time as a baker or chef. They also cannot have acquired any formal NVQ or other professional catering qualifications in the past 10 years.

To apply, visit www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours to download an application form, or email baking@loveproductions.co.uk or write to The Great British Bake Off Team at

Love West, 59 Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JR.

Closing date is 10 January 2014.