Andrew Smyth, who studied Engineering and graduated in 2013, is competing in the BBC competition The Great British Bake Off. Tonight is episode 6 of 11 and just seven bakers of the original twelve remain. This week it is Botanical Week, with three challenges inspired by nature.
Andrew currently works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls-Royce, designing jet engines. He was taught to bake by his mum and gran and has created showstoppers like the gingerbread River Cam punting scene.
To win, Andrew will need to impress judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, but experience isn’t on his side – aged 25, he is the third-youngest of the bakers in this year’s competition, who span an age range stretching from 20 to 67.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Andrew now lives in Derby and works as an aerospace engineer at Rolls-Royce, where he designs jet engines. He says that his mother and grandmother taught him how to bake, and he is keeping their recipes under wraps for the competition.
A sample from Smyth’s Instagram
Biographies of each contestant can now be read on the programme's website.
Andrew's reads: "Andrew is originally from Northern Ireland but currently lives with three friends in Derby where he works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls-Royce, designing jet engines.
"He was taught to bake by his mum and gran and has their safeguarded recipes in his arsenal.
"Andrew strives to make all his bakes look beautiful, he loves to push the boundaries of design and baking, and for his next big ambitious bake he's designing a baguette concorde."
The Great British Bake Off is at 8pm on Wednesdays, on BBC One.
