Great British Bake Off 2017: Hopeful Sophie Faldo revealed as Afghan war heroine
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2017 relaunches on Channel 4 next week, but contestant Sophie Faldo is bringing another kind of fight to the tent.
It's back! The Great British Bake off returns
Sophie, 33, is an Afghan war heroine who saw action on the front line fighting the Taliban and even received an Afghan medal for her services.
After graduating with a Masters in Psychology at The University of Toulouse, Sophie went on to join the British Army as an Officer in the Royal Artillery.
Sophie was responsible for carrying out intelligence gathering and reconnaissance on the enemy during a seven month tour of duty in Helmand Province.
Leaving the Army behind her, she finally created her own kitchen and now enjoys teaching military boot camps and is also training to be a stuntwoman when not baking.
Great British Bake Off 2017: Hopeful Sophie Faldo revealed as Afghan war heroine
It was not easy for the family knowing she was over there, but thankfully she returned unscathed
A family friend said: “We were all extremely proud of Sophie and her military career and she served with distinction in Afghanistan.
“It was not easy for the family knowing she was over there, but thankfully she returned unscathed,” they told MailOnline.
The Bake Off contestant was reportedly due to attend a reunion with her former colleagues at Sandhurst Royal Military College but cancelled at short notice.
Switching her military uniform for an apron, it has now been revealed that she was secretly filming for the Channel 4 show at the time.
Great British Bake Off 2017: Hopeful Sophie Faldo revealed as Afghan war heroine
The friend added: “A few weeks ago we had a 10-year reunion for our platoon at Sandhurst and she said she didn't know if she'd be able to make it. Now we know why! If she had got knocked out she would have made the reunion.
“She joined because she wanted the army life, she's a fantastic girl. I taught her to row and she went on to compete with the army rowing club. She's very good at skiing too. She loved the all-action life.
“I think she left because she had reached the first step on the senior ranks and it takes you away from the army life a bit. It wasn't so action-packed and she missed that. She wanted to do something different. I don't know exactly when she deployed but she got an Afghan medal.”
The Great British Bake Off launches on Channel 4 on August 29 at 8pm.