Zoella to take part in The Great British Bake Off for Comic Relief

The vlogger will join Michael Sheen and Abbey Clancy for the charity special

YouTube sensation Zoella is swapping blogging for baking in the name of charity.

The star, real name Zoe Sugg, is heading into the kitchen to take part in The Great Comic Relief Bake Off.

She joins a cast of cooks including actor Michael Sheen, Strictly Come Dancing winner Abbey Clancy and presenter Alexa Chung.

The 24-year-old, whose on-line video blog has almost seven million subscribers, recently featured on Debrett's list of the 500 most influential people in Britain.

She said: “Bake Off is one of my favourite programmes so I was genuinely a little bit shocked and very excited when I was asked to take part.”

The other celebrities picking up their mixing bowls include former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, veteran performer Dame Edna Everage, comic David Mitchell and Gok Wan.

They are joined by Jameela Jamil, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Jonathan Ross, Kayvan Novak, Lulu, Victoria Wood and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wife Sarah.

The race to be named star baker will play out over four episodes on BBC 1 starting on Wednesday February 11.

Show stalwarts Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will judge their efforts and presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc will be joined by Jo Brand and Ed Byrne as the bakers attempt to raise as much dough as possible for a good cause.

PA