Get it wrong in front of Cherish Finden and she is not afraid to reach for her ruler. As the formidable judge on Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals, Cherish has become known for critiques as precise as the patisserie she assesses – exacting, honest and delivered with an unmistakable flourish. But behind the sharp on-screen persona is one of the most decorated pastry chefs working today, an artist for whom a dessert is never just a dessert. Cherish’s style of patisserie marries food with art, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a plate, and her attention to detail is famously second to none.
With more than 25 years of international experience, Cherish has built a reputation on show-stopping, boundary-breaking work. As Executive Pastry Chef at The Langham in London she became famed for her wildly innovative afternoon teas, creating a cake replica of Windsor Castle for the Queen’s 90th birthday and a gravity-defying edible hat for Royal Ascot. She went on to open her first patisserie, SHIOK!, at London’s Pan Pacific Hotel. A spell as Creative Development Chef at GODIVA Chocolatier followed her passion for chocolate, where her Easter egg display – crowned by a single intricately crafted centrepiece weighing 25kg – was hailed as a masterpiece. Never one to follow the crowd, Cherish aims to innovate with every single creation.
Since 2016, Cherish has delivered her trademark verdicts on Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals alongside French patissier Benoit Blin, judging teams of professional pastry chefs competing to an extraordinarily high standard. Her fiery personality and relentless perfectionism have become a hugely popular part of the series, and her exacting eye is exactly what sets The Professionals apart from the amateur Great British Bake Off – the perfect illustration of the gulf between professional patisserie and home baking. Cherish Finden also presented the 2026 The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer.
She has also shown a warmer, more nurturing side as a mentor on BBC One’s Celebrity MasterChef, patiently coaching a team of famous faces. Her many other appearances span Channel 4’s Heston’s Great British Food, BBC One’s MasterChef, BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, Australian MasterChef, Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch and Junior Bake Off, The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice and ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning. Cherish is proud to be one of only a handful of Asian chefs on British television, representing her Singaporean heritage at every opportunity.
Cherish was born in Singapore, the youngest of five children. She began cooking at home at the age of eight to help support her family and was waiting tables by fourteen; it was when she volunteered to help out in the restaurant kitchen that her love of cookery truly took hold. Encouraged by family and friends, she trained at Singapore’s SHATEC Culinary School, where she discovered a natural gift for creative, artistic patisserie inspired by the world around her. After working in several of Singapore’s luxury hotels, she moved to London in 2001 – and the rest is pastry history.
Cherish has continued to challenge herself throughout her career, amassing more than 25 medals at international events – 18 of them gold. Most memorably, she led the Singapore pastry team to first place out of 32 national teams, with eight gold medals, at the 2000 IKA Culinary Olympics. Career highlights include:
Constantly striving to redefine the art of patisserie – her Singaporean upbringing always evident in her work – Cherish creates truly memorable dining experiences wherever she goes. Represented by DML Talent, she remains one of the most respected and recognisable pastry chefs in the world.
