The contestants have been revealed for the second season of The Great South African Bake Off on BBC Lifestyle that will start on 18 October with one of the contestants that left the show partway during filming after questions were raised over whether she's really an amateur baker.
Viewers will see Asfeyah Mia (52) a Johannesburg, housewife as one of the 12 new Great South African Bake Off contestants, but she leaves the show partway through the upcoming second season.
BBC Worldwide and production company Rapid Blue says that "although the production team were aware of the [2013 online] article before filming began and were satisfied that Asfeyah did meet the criteria, it was agreed the article had the potential to be a distraction and Asfeyah volunteered to step down in fairness to her fellow bakers and viewers".
BBC Worldwide making a second season of the Love Productions format, says "Asfeyah left The Great South African Bake Off before the final, therefore her departure did not impact either the make-up of the final or the overall series winner".
Lentshe Bhengu also replaces Donovan Goliath as the new co-presenter with Anne Hirsch in the upcoming season, with Shirley Guy and Tjaart Walraven as the judges.
The second season of the show includes 12 contestants, ranging from Johannesburg housewives and a domestic worker, to an economist and a scientists doing crop modelling, to a psychologist, electrician and correctional officer.
She calls baking with her mom "one of my most precious memories" and says that she tends to "push the boundaries of the cakes that we are required to bake".
Says she would describe herself as a "croquembouche" because it has "components that are traditional and pretty". If she could have baked a cake for anyone, it would be for Nelson Mandela.
Calls herself a "focused cook that enjoys classic flavours" and her signature bake is "anything to do with chocolate and salted caramel".
Says her apron slogan would be "never lose your temper".
He was always interested in baking and uses it to escape. He calls himself a "precise perfectionist who always expects good results".
He says he "bakes with passion and perseverance. Failure is not an option" and that his mom taught him to appreciate the little things in life.
He says he started experimenting with baking as a teenager. "Every Sunday as a family we had to have something fresh out of the oven, so I would always bake anything from scones to breads, and my favourite, chocolate cake".
He says baking for him is all about taste and would bake a cake for his parents if he could. "I know my mum and dad are watching over me."
He says that he can do the moonwalking while baking and would like to bake a cake for Lady Gaga. "I love her style, her music and everything she stands for.
The slogan on his apron would be: "When life gives you lemons, make a cheesecake".
This home cook says him mom taught him how to bake three decades ago, and says he's scared of working with the mixer and the oven.
If he was a cake he says he would be a "bee sting cake - soft on the inside and hard and sticky on the top".
Her biggest baking disaster ever was making rusks for a friend and forgetting to add the sugar.
"I learnt the basics of baking from my mum and the more advanced baking from my dad".
Says she likes to "experiment with new ideas, equipment, inspiration". The slogan on her apron would be "bake from your heart".
Originally from Zimbabwe, Avontalent says her passion "started four years ago, as I was far away from home".
"What sets me apart from the other bakers is I am still new to baking. I don't back of easily and I'm good with flavours. I am fast, determined and optimistic".
Says she got into baking from watching cooking and baking shows on television and says people would describe her as "rebellious, I don't like to be put in a box".
She says she would love to bake a cake for her late mum. "She was a hopeless baker and she would be very proud of me".
Says he was inspired by the bread baked by his grandfather and calls himself "pragmatic and authentic".
"I favour recipes with simple, easily-obtained ingredients. I also prefer to bake things where the appearance is determined by the preparation method and ingredients, rather than artificial decoration".
"I only really got into baking about five years ago whilst completing my Master's degree. My passion and love for cakes grew even deeper as I started working and needed a creative outlet from my stressful day at the office," she says.
She describes herself as a "analytical but messy cook".
Editor's note: BBC Worldwide in South Africa held a Summer Upfront on Tuesday in Johannesburg for its BBC channels and shows across its DStv channels on MultiChoice but didn't inform beforehand that it would be happening.
BBC Worldwide's PR agency says there wasn't enough coverage of BBC Worldwide's previous upfront given to justify an invitation/communication.
