"It really must be love."
The Great British Bake Off 2026 kicked off on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 22.
Among the 12 hopeful bakers was the 31-year-old accessibility co-ordinator Molly Chauhan.
Molly lives in London with her husband Ashish ‘Ash’ Chauhan and their sausage dog, Lando.
She works for a disability charity, reviewing accessibility in transport.
Ash and Molly started their romance in 2018. In 2019, Molly took to her Instagram to pay tribute to her partner.
She wrote: “One whole year you’ve put up with me despite a hospital admission, a bad wisdom tooth extraction that made me look like the Fat Controller, a bout of conjunctivitis (your fault tho…) which made me look like Sloth from The Goonies.
“It really must be love. Thank you for everything and I’m so excited for the future.”
The couple announced their engagement in April 2022 and tied the knot in March 2024.
When it was announced that Molly would be starring on The Great British Bake Off, she delved into her husband’s support.
She said: “I have a kitchen that seems to magically clean dishes for me.
“I turn around and they’re clean!
“My husband is usually standing nearby too and it only seems to work when he’s there, but it’s incredibly handy.”
On one of Ash’s birthdays, Molly posted a sweet selfie of her and her partner.
She gushed: “Happy birthday to the most wonderful man.
“This picture shows how happy you make me on a daily basis.
“I love you so much.”
Another post on Instagram showed the couple sparkle as guests at a wedding.
Ash looked dapper in a tuxedo while Molly sparkled in a dress decorated with flowers.
Her mother-in-law commented: “You’re both looking wonderful. Love you both.”
Another comment read: “You look absolutely stunning! Molly, this outfit is breathtaking!”
Speaking about joining the show, Molly enthused: “This all feels like some incredible, surreal dream and I still can’t believe it’s actually happening.”
The first episode of the new series saw the bakers tackle cakes.
During her signature bake, Molly was tasked with making a chocolate stout cake.
However, she dropped one of her layers while removing it from the oven, forcing her to start again.
She was eventually praised for not giving up.
As fellow contestant Shannon Amy was unable to complete the week due to illness, nobody was eliminated from the tent.
Meanwhile, South Asian contestant Mo Mahir was crowned the season’s first Star Baker.
His former teacher from West Bromwich, Sam Hayes, said he was “really proud” of him.
The Great British Bake Off continues on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 8 pm.
Molly and the rest of the bakers will be seen testing their skills on biscuits.
