She’s no stranger to fame thanks to her gardening segment on local radio and now Dorset’s ‘Compost Carole’ is all set to share her baking with the nation.

The Great British Bake Off is returning to screens next week with 12 new hopefuls donning their aprons and waiting for the immortal words, ‘Ready, steady, bake!”.

Born and bred in the West Country, Carole now resides on a Dorset hillside with her husband, Michael.


READ MORE: The Great British Bake Off 2022: Meet Dorset contestant Carole

READ MORE: Great British Bake Off 2022: Who are the 12 bakers included in the line-up?


Bournemouth Echo: Bake Off contestant "Compost Carole" earned the nickname thanks to her gardening segment on local radio. Picture: Channel 4Bake Off contestant "Compost Carole" earned the nickname thanks to her gardening segment on local radio. Picture: Channel 4

Using the same artistry she puts into her horticultural endeavours, the 59-year-old embarked on her baking journey with a first birthday cake for her eldest granddaughter Maisie.

The supermarket cashier also revealed she has honed those skills using YouTube videos to learn the finer techniques of decoration.

Great British Bake Off week one according to Carole

Bournemouth Echo: Bake Off Carole said she’s had her photo taken 200 times in week one. Picture: Channel 4Bake Off Carole said she’s had her photo taken 200 times in week one. Picture: Channel 4

Describing what happens in the first week of Bake Off filming, Carole said she’s had her photo taken “like 200 times” as well as spending time bonding with her tent mates, adding she has been “getting used to the location, and enjoying making new friends”.

And if you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to be inside the tent, Carole said: “It was much smaller than I expected, but it had a familiar feeling about it, as I had watched nearly every one of GBBO episodes, so felt quite at home.

“If you had told me I would be in the tent this time last year, I would say you were smoking something!

“When I got the call (which was 10 mins before my shift started) it was so hard not to utter a word to anyone, and I had to carry on as normal!”

Bake Off’s Carol’s Q&A

Bournemouth Echo: Bake Off's Carole said the kitchen utensil she couldn't be without is her bowl scraper. Picture: Channel 4Bake Off's Carole said the kitchen utensil she couldn't be without is her bowl scraper. Picture: Channel 4

Q: Over the years, who or what has helped your baking improve?

A: Just practise I suppose, if I like doing it, I would bake it multiple times, until it was perfect.

Q: As a baker what would you say are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?

A: My strengths are definitely decorating the cake, especially using fondant, weakness is quite possibly patisserie!

Q: What’s the one kitchen utensil that you can’t really be without?

A: My bowl scraper, I like to get every bit out!

Q: If you had to make a cake of yourself in your proudest moment – what would it be and why, and what kind of cake would it be?

A: I would make one of me behind my workbench in the tent, I would make a carrot cake.

Q: Is there any kind of cake or biscuit that you really don’t like and what is your all-time favourite?

A: I love all of them, I just love cake!

Q: If you had plenty of time at home, what’s the craziest kind of Showstopper you can think of to make?

A: I just love Orangutans, (I have been to Borneo to see them) so I would love to make a life size one.

Q: You are given the prize of going up in a hot air balloon with a previous baker, who would you choose and why?

A: I think it would have to be Giuseppe last year's winner, he is such a gent, if he was not available, I would like Lizzie, from last year, I just love her attitude.

:: Great British Bake Off Season 13 begins on Tuesday, September 13 at 8pm on Channel 4.