Any budding Northern Irish bakers out there fancy a shot in the tent?

Because if you do, the applications for 2021's instalment of the Great British Bake Off are already open. Create a soggy bottom, nab yourself a handshake, shoot the shit with Noel Fielding for a bit because god knows someone has to. Indeed, GBBO will officially (and thankfully) be returning for a further season next year, and Channel 4 want you (yes, you) to get involved. As the title of the series would suggest, you do need to be a UK resident to apply for the show. It is the Great British Bake Off, after all. And although the vast majority of folk from the Republic will no doubt be gasping for a chance to enter, it's the fine folk up North who will be getting their chance to shine on next year's show. Be your very own Mark from Armagh, asked by Matt Lucas if you would like to strip naked in the tent two weeks in a row. Or maybe you'll be Belfast's Iain, and unceremoniously dump a Baked Alaska in the bin after someone accidentally removed it from the freezer. Or perhaps you'll be one of the other entirely memorably Northern Irish contestants the show has had over the years. The possibilities, as they say, are endless. There are currently 39 days left to apply for 2021's Bake Off, so if you fit the criteria and fancy a shot at spending your summer in that tent, you know what to do. "We're looking for the next batch of bakers for the twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off," reads the show's site. "If you or someone you know is a star baker in the making, then apply now. "We are closely monitoring the situation regarding Covid-19 and we are following the advice of Public Health England. As a result, we may adjust how or when we carry out auditions. The safety and welfare of everyone involved in our productions is always paramount." You can apply for next year's series of the Great British Bake Off here or by emailing applyforbakeoff@loveproductions.co.uk or calling 0207 067 4837 with your full name, address and postcode, and telephone number.