Shivangi Sinha
Baking competitions have become hugely popular, and they draw audiences who enjoy the mix of creativity and feel-good entertainment. Among the many shows in this genre, one of the most beloved is Netflix’s ‘The Great British Baking Show: Holidays’. Its eighth season brought together five TV celebrities who stepped into the tent to test their skills in a festive bake-off. While the contestants delivered a blend of impressive triumphs and occasional missteps, it was Chris Bisson who ultimately rose above the rest by winning the special and earning praise for his performance.
Chris Bisson is Raising His Two Kids in His New House Today
Chris Bisson, best known for playing Jai Sharma in ‘Emmerdale,’ has taken on several other notable roles throughout his career. He portrays Vikram Desai in ‘Coronation Street’ and Kash Karib in ‘Shameless,’ and also appears in feature films such as the 2008 release ‘Stepdad.’ Bisson has also participated in various reality TV shows for charity, including ‘The Chase: Celebrity Special’ and the ITV reality show ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!’ He and his long-term partner, Rowena Finn, share two children. Their son Harry was born in 2013, and their daughter, Ella Rose, was born in 2015. The family has been featured on ‘All Star Family Fortunes’, while Bisson and Finn have appeared together on ‘All Star Mr & Mrs.’ In December 2024, the couple completed their major project of building their home in Moss Side, Manchester, and celebrated by hosting their daughter’s 9th birthday in their new house.
Dean Gaffney is Still Remembered as Robbie Jackson From EastEnders
Dean Gaffney is best known for his long-running role as Robbie Jackson in ‘EastEnders.’ He first joined the soap in 1993 and went on to appear in several stints, with his most prominent run lasting until 2004. He later returned in 2010, 2015, and again from 2017 to 2019, and this earned him the status as one of the show’s well-recognised characters. Outside that, Gaffney appears in series such as ‘The Bill,’ ‘M.I. High, ‘Crime Stories,’ and ‘Misfits.’ His television work also includes reality and entertainment programmes, notably ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!,’ ‘Let’s Dance for Comic Relief,’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity… South Africa.’
On the personal front, Gaffney experienced a major loss in August 2023 when his mother passed away. He has spoken openly about how difficult it has been and shared that he used to speak to her every day and continues to honour her memory. Gaffney is also a father to twin daughters, Chloe and Charlotte, born in 1996 to his former partner, Sarah Burge. The couple was together for 22 years before separating in 2015.
Sheree Murphy Likes to Cook Delectable Dishes in Her Free Time
Sheree Murphy is an English actress and television presenter who has built a long career across well-known British and international productions. She is widely recognised for her major acting roles, including her portrayal of Tricia Dingle in ‘Emmerdale,’ where she appears as a regular cast member. She later joined ‘Hollyoaks’ as Eva Strong and also took on a notable recurring role in the Australian soap ‘Neighbours’ to play Dakota Davies from 2014 to 2018. Alongside acting, Murphy has established herself as a television presenter.
She hosted ‘Soapstar Superstar: Bonus Tracks’ and went on to front the BBC cooking competition ‘Yes Chef’ from 2016 to 2017. She has also appeared as herself in several programmes, including ‘Loose Women’ as a recurring panellist and, more recently, on ‘Morning Live’ in 2022. She is married to former professional footballer Harry Kewell, whom she wed in 2002. They share four children: Taylor, Matilda, Ruby, and Dolly. She celebrated her 50th birthday in August 2025 with a blast and had the most fun with her family and close friends. Outside of her screen career, Murphy is passionate about cooking and often showcases her homemade dishes and recipes on her social media platforms.
Shobna Gulati Has Been Lauded for Her Career in Entertainment
Shobna Gulati was raised in Openshaw, Manchester, in a Punjabi Hindu family. After completing school, they earned a degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern Politics from the University of Manchester before beginning their entertainment career. In the late 1990s, they gained wide recognition playing Anita in Victoria Wood’s sitcom ‘Dinnerladies’. They briefly appear in ‘EastEnders’ as Ameena Badawi, and in 2001, they joined ‘Coronation Street’ as Sunita Alahan, remaining a central cast member until 2013 with additional appearances during special events. During the 2000s, they worked across British television, including ‘Where the Heart Is,’ ‘New Street Law,’ and ‘Magnolia,’ and participated in ‘Soapstar Superstar.’ Gulati also appears on ‘Loose Women’ as both a guest and a regular panellist.
Their later acting credits include Najia Khan in ‘Doctor Who’ (2018), ‘Vicky in Murder,’ ‘They Hope’ (2021), ‘Posy in Inside No. 9’ (2022), and ‘Nima in Hullraisers.’ Gulati published the memoir ‘Remember Me?: Discovering My Mother as She Lost Her Memory’ which is about caring for their mother before her death in 2019. They were appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester (DL) in 2015 and received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2024. Gulati married architect Anshu Srivastava in 1990 and divorced in 1994. Their son, Akshay Gulati, was born in the same year. In 2025, they came out as non-binary and adopted they/them pronouns, and even announced that they were dating someone new.
Natalie Cassidy Hosts a Fun and Quirky Podcast
Natalie Cassidy is best known for her decades-long portrayal of Sonia Fowler in ‘EastEnders,’ a role that made her one of the most familiar faces on British television. Beyond the soap, she has built a wide-ranging career through reality, entertainment, and lifestyle programming, becoming known for her humour, relatability, and strong screen presence. In 2025, Cassidy added an impressive slate of projects to her name. She appears as Bush on ‘The Masked Singer’ season 6, plays Sharon Hail in ‘Boarders.’ She even presented ‘What’s the Big Deal: Britain’s Best Buys’, won season 5 of ‘Cooking With the Stars’, and is preparing for the release of her upcoming documentary series’ Natalie Cassidy: Learning to Care’.
Alongside her TV work, she runs her own podcast ‘Life With Nat’ and, in 2025, performed ‘An Evening with Natalie Cassidy’ at The Holroyd Community Theatre. That same year, she also became an author with the release of her book ‘Happy Days’ in October 2025. Cassidy is a mother of two daughters. Her first child, Eliza, was born in 2010, whom she had with former partner Adam Cottrell. In 2016, her second daughter, Joanie, was born and she is raising her with her fiancé Marc Humphreys, whom she has been with since 2014.
Read More: Holiday Baking Championship Season 12: Where Are the Contestants Now?
