IF someone had told us five years ago that a baking exhibition would attract 27,000 visitors in three days, we'd have wondered how much sherry they'd been pouring in their fruitcake.

But last year's Cake & Bake Show proved a huge hit with the legions of home-bakers and cake fans inspired by TV shows such as The Great British Bake Off. So much so that it's back for a second outing with three more days of baking and tasting fun, from 4-6 April at Manchester Central.

Great British Bake Off winner Frances Quinn will join a stellar line-up of baking stars

Confidential has a limited-time ticket offer for readers: save 20% on Cake and Bake Show tickets.

1The 2014 Cake & Bake Show promises a lively mix of celebrity bakers, hands-on features, shopping, skills classes, and amazing sugarcraft displays.

Great British Bake Off 2013 winner Frances Quinn will join a stellar line-up of baking stars at the show, including Eric Lanlard from Baking Mad and Simon Rimmer from Sunday Brunch.

They'll be showing off their skills live on stage, and hosting classes where you can learn from them direct.

The classes are a great opportunity to master new techniques and cost just £5 per session. Numbers are limited for each class so you're advised to reserve your place as soon as possible.

There'll be a marketplace where you can stock up on bakeware, cake decorating supplies, and all manner of sweet and savoury treats from artisan producers. Other features include live cake decorating, bake off competitions, and interactive stands where you can get involved in some hands-on baking.

2A highlight of the show will be a huge, jungle-inspired cake and sugar craft installation, complete with over 120 edible handcrafted flowers and life-size animals.

Created by Cake Bomb, a collaborative team of 20 cake artists and bakers, the installation will take 2,000 hours to create and is expected to be the most ambitious cake and sugar craft installation the UK has ever seen.

Whether you’re a budding baker, professional cake decorator, a Great British Bake Off fan, or a self-proclaimed cake connoisseur, The Cake & Bake Show is the place to be this April.

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