CROYDON could soon be seeing plenty of great bakes - but hopefully not so many soggy bottoms.
The town is set to play host its own version of hit TV series The Great British Bake Off.
Five million people tuned in to the BBC show last year, which made celebrities of the judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry -famed for her 'soggy bottom' critique of the less appetising entries.
Now, one cake connoisseur has capitalised on our love of all things baking and set up the Great Croydon Bake Off 2013.
Resident Christo Matthews is running the four-part live baking event in Matthews Yard, with a junior contest also being held in the summer.
Mr Matthews said: "I'm really excited to be running the bake-off and we already have all the slots filled up for winter. Everyone loved the programme so bringing it to Croydon seemed natural.
"Throughout the days there will be live baking demonstrations and interactive workshops so everyone will have some fun."
Each event through the year will showcase four different bakers, culminating in a grand finale with the winners from each bake-off. Each baker will have to make a sweet and savoury bake.
The winners will be chosen by judges Sean Coughlan, product director of the Coughlan's bakery chain, and Tim Fisher, multi-award-winning chocolatier and pastry chef.
Mr Matthews said: "Our ambition is to inject the emerging, bustling foodie culture in Croydon with creativity and provide a chance for Croydon bakers to show off their skills.
"Croydon has proved it has a love of food; it even has a whole quarter named for it. That quarter of Croydon houses some fantastic restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines.
"Croydon also loves celebrating what it has."
The winter event will take place on February 16, the spring contest on May 11 and the summer one on July 13. The Junior Bake Off will take place on July 14.
The final will be held at Matthews Yard on October 19.
More information and a full list of the participants can be found on the website
