The Great British Bake Off is one of those shows that brings comfort to millions of viewers every year, and its return to our screens later this year is a welcome one indeed. This year, expect plenty of innovative bakes, soggy bottoms and dastardly technical challenges on the horizon as the new series kicks off. In a playful new animated trailer, hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are bees navigating their way to the baking tent, where the series will begin soon.

While the exact date for the 15th series of the show has yet to be announced, the past four seasons of the show have all begun in September, so we likely don’t have too long to wait.

The new trailer also featured a playful nod to judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who’s names are carved into a love heart on a tree.

Must-Have Gadgets for Home Bakers

If you’re looking to improve your baking skills this year, and perhaps try out some of the delicious recipes featured on the show, now is a great time to upgrade your kitchen with some high-quality equipment. Kitchen tech has come a long way in the last decade or so, and baking is no exception to that. Here are a few gadgets to help you whip up cakes, cookies and more with less effort:

A Digital Scale

Any aspiring or accomplished cook will know the importance of measurements while baking, and the only way to truly know the exact amounts you’re adding to your mix is to use a high-quality digital scale. Thankfully, these don’t have to be extraordinarily expensive – they’re widely available and often very reasonably priced. If you are willing to spend a little more than most, though, the Oxo Stainless Steel Scale (£44, reduced from £55, available from John Lewis) is brilliant – its display can be pulled out so it’s still visible under bigger bowls and containers, which is the sort of design feature we really love.

A Top-Class Stand Mixer

A stand mixer is a must-have for anyone who wants to avoid baking the old-fashioned way, where every bit of kneading is by hand and things can get exhausting quickly. Mixers help you get doughs and batters ready way more easily – and while they’re renowned for revolutionising how you bake, but they also come with sometimes chunky price tags. However, any baker will tell you that a proper stand mixer is well worth the investment, and will last you for years to come. It’s on the pricey side, but you can’t beat the quality of Bosch’s CreationLine Stand Mixer & Built-In Scale (£399 from Argos).

A Great Hand Mixer

Of course, we don’t all have the budget or the counter space to accommodate a stand mixer of the quality that we’d like, and there’s no shame in that. A big bowl and a decent hand mixer can make up for that with room to spare, even if it’ll take a little more time and effort to work with. As with so many household gadgets, KitchenAid is a market leader, and its Nine-Speed Hand Mixer is the one to get if you can. It costs £139 direct, but is worth it for quality and longevity – and is still more affordable than a high-class stand mixer.

A Good Immersion Blender

It might not seem like the most obviously baking-flavoured tool in your kitchen arsenal, but once you remember how many treats are iced, cream-filled or laced with ganache, you’ll realise how useful a good immersion blender can be. This will save your arms and get your fillings ready in record-breaking time, with the added benefit of being useful for all sorts of other types of cooking, too. One well-liked affordable option is the Bosch CleverMixx (available for £36 from AO), which is small, simple and easy to use: everything you’d want in a kitchen gadget.

An Oven Thermometer

Just like a pitmaster needs a good meat probe, every baker will benefit from having an oven thermometer on hand. Rather than guessing based on a dial, a proper oven thermometer will give you a super-accurate reading to make sure that you know exactly how long your baked goods should stay in for. There are loads of these on the market, and the Taylor Pro Oven Thermometer is a great choice at just £8.99 through Lakeland.

Flour Power Indeed

With these tools and a sprinkle of creativity, you can confidently take on any baking challenge that comes your way. So, get your baking gear ready and prepare for a season filled with delicious creations and a touch of sweet relief. We can’t wait for the return of The Great British Bake Off!