Former Bolton School pupil Ralf Little joins Celebrity Bake Off

Ralf, who left Bolton School in 1988, has gone on to become a household name thanks to his roles in hit television comedies including The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

He is among a star-studded line-up confirmed for the Channel 4 charity series, which raises money for Stand Up To Cancer, a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

DI Neville Parker, in Death In Paradise, who has left the show after four years on the Caribbean-set detective show

Also taking part this year are radio DJ Scott Mills, social media star Molly-Mae Hague, singer Rag’n’Bone Man, TV personality Vicky Pattison, singer Mutya Buena and comedian Richard Herring.

The announcement comes just after it was revealed he would take on the lead role of secret service agent Alec Leamas in the stage adaptation of John le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

The 45-year-old recently appeared in Will And Ralf Should Know Better, which follows him and his Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps co-star Will Mellor navigating life as middle-aged men.

Ralf will front the cast in the production’s UK tour which kicks off in March this year, with shows in Newcastle, Glasgow, York, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Set at the height of the Cold War, the novel follows a disillusioned British intelligence officer, who is forced to carry out one last operation in Berlin.

It is the first novel by Le Carre to have been adapted for the stage, having premiered with a sold-out production at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024 before taking to London’s West End.

Ralf said: “It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of one of John le Carre’s great literary creations, Alec Leamas, as we bring the murky world of his Cold War masterpiece to life on stage.

“I first read The Spy Who Came In From The Cold when I was 16 and it has stayed with me ever since.

“Reading David Eldridge’s brilliant script, I once again found myself drawn into the story’s unexpected twists and turns, its high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between East and West, which David has captured so thrillingly in the play.”

He added: “Despite being written in the 60s it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now. I can’t wait to share this story with audiences old and new as we take it to cities right across the UK.”

Joining Ralf in the famous Bake Off tent will be TV and radio presenter Mark Wright, YouTuber and presenter Nella Rose, comedian Jon Richardson, actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and podcast host Sam Thompson.

They will compete against a second group of celebrities including actress Roisin Conaty, singer and dancer JoJo Siwa, actor Emmett J Scanlan, DJ Aston Merrygold, broadcaster Edith Bowman, comedian Alex Brooker and actress Ambika Mod.

The line-up is completed by comedians Joe Wilkinson, Babatunde Aleshe, Rose Matafeo, Tom Davis and Judi Love.

Each episode will feature different celebrities attempting the show’s signature, technical and showstopper challenges, all in a bid to impress the judges and avoid the dreaded soggy bottom.

Only one contestant per episode will be crowned Star Baker.

Paul Hollywood will be joined at the judging table by Bake Off: The Professionals judge and internationally renowned pastry chef Cherish Finden, with Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding returning as hosts.

Speaking about her role on the show, Cherish said: “I am delighted to be joining Paul in judging Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).

“Stepping from the professional kitchen into the famous Bake Off tent felt like my first day of school – my heart was racing and I had butterflies in my tummy.

“Whilst I definitely haven’t left my ruler at home, judging these wonderful celebrities is about more than just precision, it’s about spreading joy and supporting a meaningful cause.

“To be part of SU2C and see the contestants push themselves out of their comfort zone for such a good cause was simply brilliant.

All money raised through Stand Up To Cancer funds life-saving cancer research.