Bake Off Runner-Up Confesses: 'I Actually Hate Baking Cakes!'

Aaron Mountford-Myles, a baker from Stoke-on-Trent, became well-known after reaching the final of the 2025 series of The Great British Bake Off. Although he did not win, finishing as runner-up to Jasmin Mitchell, Aaron described his time on the show as both challenging and rewarding. He explained that participating in Bake Off was far from easy, saying it was 'not a walk in the park. ' The process involved a lot of preparation, including writing recipes and practicing baking before stepping into the famous tent. Despite the stress, Aaron said the experience was the best of his life, filled with a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to anxiety.

Since the show aired, Aaron has noticed a big change in his daily life. More people recognize him and want to talk to him about baking. He finds it lovely that people in the streets want to chat, and he appreciates the diverse and supportive Bake Off audience. Aaron first applied to be on Bake Off about eight years ago and tried again in 2019 before finally making it onto the show this year. The idea to apply came from a colleague who enjoyed the homemade tarts Aaron brought to work. Being on the show allowed Aaron to meet many new people and learn new things about himself and baking.

Aaron is currently studying for a master's degree in analytics. He said that feedback from judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith helped him learn how to handle criticism better. Sometimes he disagreed with their opinions, but he learned to accept and apply their advice. After the show, Aaron's life has mostly stayed the same, except that more people now ask him to bake cakes. However, Aaron admitted that he actually hates making cakes and does not enjoy eating them. For Christmas, he plans to make a triple chocolate tart for his cousin Grace and might recreate his trifle from the show. Aaron also mentioned that he would love to appear on another reality TV show, The Traitors, in the future. Overall, Aaron is grateful for the opportunities and friendships that Bake Off has brought him.