Ukrainian amateur baker Natalia Richardson has written her name into the history of the popular TV show Great British Bake Off, becoming the first representative of Ukraine on the show. Having passed a tough casting process among 10,000 applicants, she earned the right to compete against the top six strongest chefs in the country.
Already in the first week of filming, Natalia attracted the attention of the jury and the audience, winning a special award for her creation – a cake made in the form of a geographical map of Ukraine.
It was extremely important for the participant to change the perception of her native country abroad and show it through positive images.
Natalia’s life path is closely connected with the events in Ukraine: she grew up in the Donetsk region, later lived in Kyiv, and a few months before the start of a full-scale war, she moved to her husband in Great Britain.
It was her chosen one, Harry, who also has Ukrainian roots and spent his childhood here, who initiated her participation in the show, secretly sending an application. The couple is actively involved in volunteering, helping refugees, and even sheltered a dog rescued from dangerous areas under shelling at home.
The family now lives in Britain and is raising their daughter Francesca, but they do not lose touch with their roots and dream of a peaceful future. Natalia continues to cook for charity events, directing the proceeds to support compatriots.
After the end of hostilities, the couple plans to visit Ukraine with the whole family to show their little daughter the beauty and greatness of her parents’ native land.
