'The Great British Bake Off' Season 7 Starts Next Week

Ready, set, bake: Season seven of The Great British Bake Off gets underway next week on August 24. For those who have never seen the show, which airs on the BBC, allow us to explain: Amateur home bakers are pitted against one another in a series of baking challenges that range from sugar work to making various types of cakes (including loads of British classics that will make you contemplate hopping a plane to the UK). It's difficult to say why the show has become a cult favorite, but one thing's for sure: It's hard not to fall in love with how intensely British the show is, from the pastries to the manners of both the judges and contestants.

This season's range of contestants include an aerospace engineer, a hairdresser, a nurse, a student and a pastor, all of whom will be looking for approval from judges and master bakers Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Last season's winner Nadiya Hussain raised the bar with her confections and even went on to bake the Queen's 90th birthday cake (a three-tiered orange drizzle cake with vanilla buttercream and orange marmalade), so you can bet the competition this season will be intense.

As is tradition, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins return to host this season, which starts on August 24. No word on when the show might officially land in the U.S., but in the meantime, get a sneak peek below.