A Baptist pastor is among the 12 contestants in the BBC's Great British Bake Off which begins tonight.
Lee Banfield, aged 67, began working life as a builder but in the mid-1980s knew he wanted to give his life to Christ and began studying theology.
He has worked in various pastoral ministries for the past 30 years, and for the past five years has been pastor of Cornerstone Church in Bolton in Greater Manchester, north-west England.
Among many activities, the church hosts a lunch club and barbecues.
There is also a youth club, a children's club, a women's fellowship, a club for the over 55's and regular brass band concerts and social evenings.
Banfield, who has two grown-up children and four grandchildren, started baking in 1984 when he injured his back playing cricket with his son.
He was forced to take time off work and found that baking was a good way to fill his days.
The BBC said: "He likes traditional flavours; cherry, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate. He doesn¹t
tend to veer too far from the norm but does enjoy a taste of the exotic every now and again."
The popular competition was won last year by Muslim mother-of-three Nadiya Hussain. A full list of contestants is published in the Radio Times.
