It’s back – with more bunting, baking powder and iced buns than ever!
The Great South African Bake Off is set to return to screens this October 2017 as a new hunt for SA’s best amateur baker begins. This series will see cooking sensation Zola Nene join the expert judging panel alongside Tjaart Walraven. Zola joins the team following former judge Shirley Guy’s decision to step out of the Bake Off tent. Presenters Anne Hirsh and Lentswe Bhengu also return for the new series.
SABC 3’s ‘Expresso Morning Show’
Originally from Durban, Zola Nene now lives in Cape Town as a successful TV chef. Following the decision to take a break from studying law, it was travelling and working as a pastry chef in England that helped her realise her passion for food and baking. On returning to SA, she enrolled at the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch – where her appreciation for local cuisine was cemented, working with Margot Janse of Le Quartier Francais and Chris Erasmus of Foliage Restaurant.
Now an award winning cookbook author, Zola is resident chef on SABC 3’s Expresso Morning Show. In this next stop on her journey, Zola will be bringing her expertise to one of the most successful cooking format shows in the world. A champion of South African cuisines and its diversity, she will help to put the new line-up of hopeful amateur bakers through their paces and really let them know if their potbroods are overdone or if their Amakhekhe are too dry.
“I started my career in the food world as a pastry chef, and ever since then, I have always loved baking. I am hugely excited to be joining the South African Bake Off family, simply because I am big fan of the show. I know it is going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to meet all of the new hopeful bakers and join them on this exciting new adventure.”
A smash hit
Tjaart Walraven, who has been a judge on the hit show adds, “It is fantastic that Zola will be joining the team. It has been an absolute pleasure judging alongside Shirley Guy for series one and two but I know it is going to be a fun new experience working with Zola. I am very excited to get into the tent and see all the new contestants and of course – sample their bakes!”
The Great South African Bake Off has been a ratings smash for BBC Lifestyle. During series two, the show pulled in over two million viewers and was the number one channel in its competitor set on DStv’s platform.
What: The Great South African Bake Off, Series Three
When: October 2017
Where: BBC Lifestyle, DStv channel 174
Web: www.bbcsouthafrica.com
Social media: #BakeOffSA, @BBCSouthAfrica, Instagram: BBCLifestyleSA
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