A firefighter from Tunbridge Wells tackled a different kind of heat in the debut of Great British Bake Off last night.

Mat Riley only began baking three years ago, but has stepped his culinary crafting up a level and is competing for the title of Star Baker.

The 37-year-old, formerly of Tea Garden Lane, made his first TV appearance last night and sailed through the first round, with a gin and tonic Madeira cake, a walnut cake and showstopping black forest gateau.

Preferring sweet over savoury baking, Mat, who now lives with his wife in London, calls himself a 'competent amateur' who learns every time he bakes.

He delved into the world of baking after making a decision to have a macaroon tower for a wedding cake. In his Great British Break Off interview, he said: "I thought I’d have a go and they came out perfectly.

"After that success I thought I could bake anything! Turns out it was beginners luck as it took quite a while to bake something as good as the macaroons again."

The bake-off contestant says he is used to being in stressful situations at work so thought he'd be fine in the kitchen, but admits when Paul and Mary silently check out his work it "gets the blood pumping a bit faster".

Mat applied for the show after being inspired by Richard from series 5. He says his biggest fear is a bird flying in through the tent window.

What did you think of Mat's first performance? Leave us your comments below.

Stories you might have missed

Man arrested under terror act

Wife woke to find husband dead from suicide cocktail

Four Kent locations in UK 'happy' list

Mosque arson was 'not a hate crime'