Great British Bake Off 2018 LIVE: Manon named star baker as Imelda becomes first contestant to leave the show

All the latest from the Berkshire-based tent

Great British Bake Off 2018 Trailer

Britain’s most beloved baking show is finally back! Bake Off returned with a batch of new contestants hoping to win over Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith’s taste buds.

The second series to air on Channel 4 kicked off with biscuit week and saw the 12 newcomers tasked with creating a set of traditional biscuits inspired by something personal to them. A gentle enough start – unlike the technical challenge, which featured some devilishly tricky marshmallow-making as the new dozen were asked to make wagon wheels.

Following a difficult showstopper that saw the bakers make selfie biscuits, France's own Manon was voted star baker, while Imelda was voted out (narrowly losing to Terry).

The Independent live-blogged along all the action from the Berkshire-based tent below. Catch up on everything that happened below – please give the live-blog a moment to load.

The Independent recently ran through everything we learnt from a preview screening of the first episode, also including some tantalising snippets of news about the upcoming series from Prue and Paul. (Spoiler: Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding are back and better than ever.)

You can also learn more about each of the new contestants by flicking through the below gallery.

Bake Off airs Tuesday on Channel 4 at 8pm.

[28 August 2018 20:01 · Andrew Buncombe]

Boom! We're back! With a sketch about... Back to the Future? It's like Bake to the Future, geddit? More importantly, poor Prue, who managed - in case you forgot - to Tweet out last year's winner a few hours before the final episode! At least she's able to laugh at herself...

[28 August 2018 20:02 · Andrew Buncombe]

12 new bakers. They all look fun, don't they? And Prue promising to be "tougher" this year. Watch out, bakers.

[28 August 2018 20:04 · Andrew Buncombe]

And the first challenge: 24 regional biscuits. Easy, right? "Don't kid yourselves, biscuits are difficult to make," says Paul. "I'm looking for regional perfection." Ok, maybe not so easy....

[28 August 2018 20:06 · Andrew Buncombe]

Ah, it's the good 'ol going around the tent and introducing everyone bit of Bake Off. First up, Briony from Bristol, who seems nice enough.

[28 August 2018 20:07 · Andrew Buncombe]

Dan, the full time Dad, is nervous. Who wouldn't be, especially when he's up against Brittany's best baker Manon, who seems cool as a cucumber?

[28 August 2018 20:08 · Andrew Buncombe]

Ruby - project manager and boxer Ruby - hoping to knock out the competition. Puns! Then there's Rahul, who Skypes his Mum and Dad everyday! Every. Day. How does he get the time, being a nuclear scientist/baker?

[28 August 2018 20:10 · Andrew Buncombe]

Imelda, from Northern Ireland - we've got a good few accents here don't we - looking confident. And Luke! DJ Luke! Sheffield cheeky chappy Luke! Another solid accent.

[28 August 2018 20:11 · Andrew Buncombe]

Antony's love affair with Bollywood influences his baking. He's teaching Sandi to dance. She's got better moves than Theresa May to be fair.

[28 August 2018 20:12 · Andrew Buncombe]

Welshman Luke's here. And he's whipping out the Dad jokes already.

[28 August 2018 20:13 · Andrew Buncombe]

Kim-Joy, who was inspired by the smell of her shampoo. Because, of course.