A software engineer from Kent is set to appear in the The Great British Bakeoff as it returns to screens next week.

Tom, 28, is one of the 12 bakers taking part in this year's series, hosted by Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.

Despite being the only boy in his primary school baking club, Tom found his passion for baking four years ago - when he made his dad a sticky toffee pudding.

His mum describes him as the "midnight baker" as before he moved out of the family home, she would often wake up to a sweet treat... and a pile of washing up.

Now he bakes several times a week and likes to take the foundations of a recipe then make it his own.

When he is not baking, Tom works for the family software company and loves amateur dramatics and singing. He is also a keen runner.

Entrants compete against each other in a series of challenges, with their culinary skills being judged by Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.

But Tom is not the first person to represent the county in the popular programme.

Baking extraordinaire Laura Adlington made it to the Great British Bake Off final last year.

But the Gravesend-born baker struggled with her timings in her last few bakes and didn't quite do enough to beat Peter Sawkins, who was crowned the winner.

Chetna Makan, from Broadstairs, was a semi-finalist in the 2014 series.

The former fashion designer has written four cook books and runs a YouTube channel where she posts weekly recipes.

Her latest book, Chetna's healthy Indian vegetarian, was released this summer.

Bake Off finalist Jane Beedle has continued to share her baking with the world since wowing the judges.

She lost out to Candice Brown in the 2016 series and this year launched her own cookery school at Monkshill Farm, near Faversham.

A firefighter from Tunbridge Wells turned up the heat with his sizzling bakes.

Mat Riley impressed the judges in the 2015 series with his gin and tonic Madeira cake. His edible fire truck, containing biscuits, also won over the judges.

The 42-year-old, who hails from Kent but moved to London, was the seventh contestant to leave after coming unstuck in the Victorian-themed tasks.

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