Who is Antony Amourdoux? Meet the Great British Bake Off 2018 contestant

Antony Amourdoux is one of the plucky contestants taking part in The Great British Bake Off 2018.

The self-styled "Bollywood baker" grew up in India, but now lives in London where he works as a banker.

Antony cites his father as the inspiration behind his baking, and says that's who he went into the GBBO tent for. "My dad taught me how to make a Victoria Sponge as a little boy," he says, adding that it was his partner who signed him up to appear on the Channel 4 show.

His baking is influenced by his travels all over the world. And he doesn't mess around when it comes to research – he apparently ate 50 chop buns during one Paris trip.

"All of my friends back home in India will be really surprised," he said, when asked who would be most shocked to see him on the show. "They have known me to be a singer in a choir, a two-piece band – but never as a baker. So it will be interesting to see their reaction."

Meanwhile he also describes his kitchen as "chaotic" and that his friends are "shocked that I can make cakes in such a small area!"

He often posts pictures of the bakes he does create in his kitchen on Instagram, including these Halloween-themed cupcakes:

Antony's Bake Off journey

While he was never in contention for Star Baker in Biscuit Week, Antony safely navigated the opening episode – while making a big impression on presenters Noel and Sandi. First he taught Sandi some key baking Bollywood dance moves, before earning a handshake from Noel (what happened to the Hollywood Handshake??) after impressing with his biscuits filled with mango and chilli jam.

The Bake Off tent waved goodbye to a tearful Antony in Bread Week, after his Chelsea Buns proved too "dry", his garlic naan wasn't up to scratch and his showstopper was too "heavy".