Bake Off finalist Aaron Mountford-Myles dies aged 59
By Alex McIntyre,West midlands and Lee Blakeman,BBC Radio Stoke
Former Great british Bake Off finalist Aaron Mountford-Myles has died at the age of 59,his family has said.
The structural engineer reached the final of the 2015 series of the Channel 4 show, becoming known for his elaborate showstoppers and calm demeanour.
his family said he died peacefully at home on Friday, and requested privacy at this arduous time.
Tributes have been pouring in from fellow bakers and fans.
Mountford-Myles, from Brockley, south-east London, was a father of two and worked as a structural engineer.
he frequently enough spoke of how baking helped him cope with the stress of his job.
During his time on Bake Off, he impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his ambitious creations, but ultimately lost out to Nadiya Hussain.
He continued to bake after the show, sharing his recipes and creations online.
Fellow contestants from the 2015 series were among the first to pay tribute.
“Such sad news. Aaron was a kind, gentle soul and a brilliant baker,” said Ian Cumming on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Sending all my love to his family and friends.”
Bake Off presenter Sue perkins said she was “devastated” to hear the news.
“A lovely man, a brilliant baker and a gentle soul. Sending his family all my love,” she posted on X.
Channel 4 and Love Productions, the makers of the show, also released a statement.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Aaron Mountford-Myles,” it read.
“He was a beloved member of the Bake Off family – both during his time on the show and beyond. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Aaron Mountford-Myles calls his time on *The Great British Bake Off* the best experience of his life. He describes it as a whirlwind of emotions – the joy of being in the iconic tent mixed with the pressure of developing recipes.
“the highs far outweigh all the preparation and the stress,” he explained. “It’s not easy.”
He encourages others to try out for the show, but stresses the importance of preparation. Don’t expect an easy ride.
“You don’t just go in and bake something,” Mountford-Myles said.”There’s a lot of time and prep work before you even get into the tent.”
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