AMRC scientist Rahul hits screens tonight on Great British Bake Off

A ROTHERHAM baker will rise to the challenge as he aims to create the right recipe to win the Great British Bake Off.

Dr Rahul Mandal, an engineering researcher at Catcliffe’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), will appear on screens tonight (Tuesday) as the popular TV baking competition makes its return.

The 30-year-old, who won last year’s Rotherham Show baking competition (below), has been unveiled as one of the 12 new bakers that will enter the big white tent and attempt to cook up a storm.

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An AMRC statement said Dr Mandal, a research associate specialising in light-based measurement of engineered components, started baking cakes for colleagues at the Nuclear AMRC only two years ago.

The statement added: “Born in India, Rahul came to the UK in 2010 on a scholarship to study for his PhD in optical metrology at Loughborough University. He joined the Nuclear AMRC in 2015, to develop innovative automated techniques for inspecting components for any contamination or flaw.”

“Rahul has expanded his research skills, and now works with other light-based measurement technologies including confocal microscopy and interferometry for weld inspection,” added the statement.

Rahul said his job was “all about measuring things with light” and described his baking style as ‘East-meets-West’.

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The blossoming baker added: “I try to bake on alternate days. If it is something big, I develop and design it over the week and then execute it over the weekend. I am a very messy baker and viewers will see that! My flat is quite small and so it’s even messier at home - a big issue!”

He said “pretty much everybody” he knew would be surprised that he had made it onto the show

“Colleagues I knew during my PhD don’t have a clue that I can bake. Back in India I didn’t bake either. All of them and actually myself are surprised that I made it into the tent,” he said.

The Great British Bake Off is on Channel 4 at 8pm.

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