Television’s greatest cooking show, the Great British Bake Off, returns next week and thanks to three south London bakers there is even more reason to watch this series.

Last year, Greenwich firefighter Mat Riley impressed and entertained us in equal measure but for 2016’s seventh series, starting on BBC One on Wednesday, we have a garden designer, an economist and university employee to get behind.

Among the 12 amateur bakers joining judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in the famous tent are Jane Beedle, Rav Bansal and Benjamina Ebuehi.

Read more: What went wrong for Greenwich firefighter Mat Riley as his Great British Bake Off dream ended?

Garden designer Jane, 61, is a mum of two grown-up children who lives in Beckenham with her husband Ray. She’s up at 5am most mornings to get her bread in the oven and was inspired by her bakery-owing grandfather.

Rav Bansal, 28, lives with his parents in Erith. He studied Criminology at university and now works supporting students at City University. He has volunteered at charities such as victim support and likes to get experimental in the kitchen with unusual ingredients. He loves far eastern cuisine and vegan baking.

Benjamina Ebuehi, 23, from Vauxhall, has recently graduated with a first class degree in economics and fits baking around her job working as a teaching assistant. She keeps a blog – carrotandcrumb.com – where she shares her amazing looking bakes and some recipes.

In her blog’s ‘about me’ section she said she ‘loves making pretty cakes and other yummy bakes’ and hopes to turn the passion into a full-time job.

Once again, the Great British Bake Off will be presented by Mel Giedroyc, from Epsom, and Sue Perkins, from Croydon.

News Shopper: