Naman Shrestha
Netflix’s ‘The Great British Baking Show’ Collection 13 or series 16 follows a group of amateur yet talented bakers who compete against one another in multiple rounds, trying to impress the judges — Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. A Hong Kong native named Carol “Pui Man” Li was one of the 12 bakers competing for the title. She impressed the judges with her baking talents as well as her creativity when faced with challenges throughout the competition.
Carol “Pui Man” Li is Passionate About Baking and Designing
Born in Hong Kong, China, Carol “Pui Man” Li is a bridal wear designer based in Essex, England. Her passion for baking was reignited during the lockdown forced by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having applied four times for ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ she was delighted as well as shocked when she was selected as one of the 12 bakers in series 16. Being a perfectionist when it comes to her job, she is known for her attention to detail, whether it is designing a bridal dress or baking a cake. However, she considers her perfectionist nature to be one of her weaknesses as she tends to get frustrated when her creations don’t turn out to be perfect. The full-time bridal designer has embraced her passion for baking and has no plans to look back.
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Carol “Pui Man” Li Leads a Sweet Life in Essex With Her Family and Friends
As far as her personal life is concerned, Carol “Pui Man” Li currently resides in Essex, England, with her family, which consists of her loving husband and two adorable children. When she is free of her professional and motherly duties, she either indulges in baking or knitting, preferably with a pint in the company of her friends. Carol is a compassionate and selfless woman who collects surplus food from supermarkets and distributes it across her community at least three times every week. Apart from baking, Carol has also expressed her love for cooking Chinese food for her loved ones.
She stated, “I could spend all day just to cook a big Hong Kong style Chinese meals for my family.” In August 2025, she prepared a Chinese meal for their family’s Chinese dinner tradition, which included “sweet and sour pork, spicy chicken wings, spring rolls, beef with spring onions and ginger in oyster sauce, chicken with stir-fried veggies, and steaming jasmine rice.” Making the most of her baking talent, the wedding dress designer occasionally bakes cakes and other desserts, such as making marshmallows, meringues, macarons, tuile biscuits, and fortune cookies, for her friends and family.
Although her journey on the show has finished, she stays in touch with several of the other contestants, especially Lesley Anne Holloway. Carol even expressed her love for her “long-lost friend,” stating, “My dearest Bake Off buddy @lesley_anne_bakes, you’ve been with me every step of the way. Your support means the world, from calming my nerves to celebrating our pub nights. We’ve shared an unforgettable journey to the tent and back.” She also greeted her on her 60th birthday in early September 2025. The 51-year-old also loves to pick wild plums and make homemade jam with them.
