The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer - - 8:00 pm Wednesday, December 17 on E4 HD

Matt Lucas (Presenter)

Born: March 05, 1974 in Paddington, London

Best Known For: Little Britain.

Early-life: Matthew Richard Lucas was born in London on March 5, 1974 to Diana and chauffeur John. Together with his older brother Howard, the family lived in Stanmore, Middlesex. Matt developed alopecia at a young age and lost his hair when he was just six. He attended the National Youth Theatre, where he met his long-time collaborator David Walliams. In 1992, he made his debut on the London comedy circuit with the character Sir Bernard Chumley, five weeks after he was talent-spotted by Bob Mortimer.

Career: In 1994, Lucas appeared at the Edinburgh Festival, returning a year later with Walliams. The pair enjoyed a sell-out tour in 1997. Lucas also worked with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Shooting Stars, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Vic and Bob in Catterick. He reunited with Walliams for the spoof documentary series Rock Profiles, before creating the radio show Little Britain, which moved to TV in 2003; they also created Come Fly With Me in 2010. Lucas has enjoyed success on the stage in a number of production and popped up in Casanova, The Wind in the Willows, Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Bridesmaids. He also fronts BBC One comedy show The Matt Lucas Awards.

Quote: "People do recognise me, but they usually think I am Mark Lamarr. Sometimes people tell me loudly in public that I was the Tango man, too."

Trivia: Matt signed up for a three-month stint in West End musical Les Miserables in 2011 following his role in its 25th anniversary show in October 2010.

Noel Fielding (Presenter)

Born: May 21, 1973 in London

Best Known For: The Mighty Boosh.

Early-life: Born May 21, 1973, in Westminster to 18-year-old parents who, despite the fact he was shy and introverted as a child, encouraged him in his desire to be an entertainer. He has revealed that they 'had a lot of parties' but has not spoken much about his youth, except to say that although he wasn't keen on their lifestyle at the time, he now admits they inspired his unusual fashion sense. He was educated at Croydon Art College and Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (now Buckinghamshire New University) before embarking on a stand-up career.

Career: Fielding performed regularly as a stand-up comedian during the late 1990s, and appeared repeatedly on the TV stand-up showcase Lee Mack's Gas. He formed a short-lived but well-received comedy partnership with Russell Brand. His highly animated stand-up routine included surreal stories, physical comedy, characters, and songs, much like his later work alongside Julian Barratt in The Mighty Boosh, which became a monster hit when it moved to TV in 2004. He remains an active stand-up, has his own Channel 4 show (Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy) and is a popular team captain on never Mind the Buzzcocks. He's also still a keen artist and has shown his work in a number of exhibitions.

Quote: "When I'm 70 I might be a man in a park just wandering around, speaking in tongues with kids throwing bread at me."

Trivia: His brother, Michael, played Naboo in The Mighty Boosh; both his parents also appeared briefly in the show, and all three have featured in Luxury Comedy.

Paul Hollywood (Judge)

Born: March 01, 1966 in Wallasey, Merseyside

Best Known For: The Great British Bake Off.

Early-life: Paul John Hollywood was born in Wallasey, Merseyside, on March 1, 1966. He studied sculpture at the Wallasey School of Art before quitting to work at his father's bakery.

Career: Hollywood went on to become head baker at a number of hotels, including The Dorchester, Chester Grosvenor and Spa and the Clivedon Hotel. He began making a number of guest appearances on TV shows such as The Generation Game, This Morning, and The Alan Titchmarsh Show. His big break came in 2010 when he started working alongside fellow judge Mary Berry on popular BBC Two baking show The Great British Bake Off. In May 2013, he began appearing on US TV as a judge on The American Baking Competition.

Quote: "The real Paul Hollywood is shy, likes nothing better than going home, putting on slippers and dressing gown, having a cup of tea and watching telly."

Trivia: Hollywood has written a number of books on baking, including 100 Great Breads, How to Bake, and American Baking Competition.

Prue Leith (Judge)

Born: February 18, 1940 in Cape Town, South Africa

Best Known For: Being a judge on The Great British Bake Off.

Early-life: Born Prudence Margaret Leith in South Africa in 1940. Her mother, Margaret Inglis, was a successful actress and, according to Prue, the 'worst cook in the world'. Prue had a very happy childhood, although she has said that if she could give her teenage self one piece of advice, it would be to be more sensitive to the inequalities of apartheid-era South Africa. She left school with no real idea of what she wanted to do _ she toyed with becoming an actress, architect or an artist. It was only while studying in Paris to improve her French that she discovered her love of cooking and realised she wanted a career in food.

Career: In 1960, Prue arrived in London to attend the Cordon Bleu Cookery School. She went on to launch her own catering business and restaurant, as well as a cookery school. She also became a successful food writer, with columns in many national papers, and penned novels as well as cook books. Prue didn't enjoy her first TV experience, which saw her hosting a personality magazine show, but in the personality she found success as a judge on BBC's Great British Menu. She left the show after 11 years, intending to retire, only to land her most high-profile TV job to date when she took over from her friend Mary Berry as a judge on The Great British Menu.

Quote: "My very first book, Leigh's All-Party Cookbook, had the dedication, ‘For my mother, who can't cook for toffee, but gave marvellous parties anyway'. I wanted to make the point that food isn't the only thing that goes into a party - your friends have not come to judge you."

Trivia: In July 2017, she was installed as the Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

Ellie Goulding (Contestant)

Born: December 30, 1986 in Hereford

Best Known For: Being a singer-songwriter.

Early-life: Elena Jane Goulding was born in Hereford on December 30, 1986. She has a brother and two sisters. Her parents separated when she was five. Ellie began playing clarinet when she was nine and by the age of 14, she was learning to play guitar. While at Hereford Sixth Form College, she entered a singing competition and won. She went on to study drama, politics and English at the University of Kent. She was spotted by Jamie Lillywhite of Turn First Artists at a university talent contest. He became her manager and she left university. Ellie signed to Polydor Records in July 2009.

Career: Goulding's debut single, Under the Sheets, was released in November 2009 and reached number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. Her debut album, Lights, came out in March 2010 and reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. Later that year, she opened for U2 on the U2 360 Tour in Zurich, Munich and Vienna. In April 2011, she performed at the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In December the same year, she sang at the White House during the National Christmas Tree lighting. Her profile increased further in the United States when she opened for Katy Perry's California Dreams tour. Since then, Goulding has released two further albums and she now headlines her own tours around the world.

Quote: "The first time I sang, everyone was completely in awe."

Trivia: Goulding has the vocal range of a light-lyric soprano. She is a keen runner.

Mawaan Rizwan (Contestant)

Sophie Morgan (Contestant)

Tracy-Ann Oberman (Contestant)

Lucy Terrell (Series producer)

Jeannette Goulbourn (Director)

Letty Kavanagh (Executive producer)

Jenna Mansfield (Executive producer)

Richard McKerrow (Executive producer)

Kieran Smith (Executive producer)

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer:

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Today on E4 HD (135)

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Season 5, Episode 5

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