Inside the heart-breaking childhood of Bake Off star Sandro after fleeing war-torn home aged two

BAKE Off contestant Sandro had to flee his war-torn homeland with his mum when he was just two years old.

The 30-year-old nanny is one of 12 new bakers entering the Bake Off tent later this month.

But the handsome baker had a traumatic start in life, as he and his mum had to flee Angola, where he was born, as war ravaged the African country.

Angola was locked in a civil war from 1975 and continuing, with interludes, until 2002.

Sandro was born in 1992, but in 1993, fighting raged during the whole year as the government gradually regained territory and won greater support abroad.

South Africa and the United States recognised the government of Angola in 1993, as did the United Kingdom by ending an arms embargo that had existed since 1975.

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Eventually, an agreement called the Lusaka Accord was signed by the government and the opposing UNITA on November 20, 1994. The agreement allowed UNITA to be reintegrated into the government, provided fighting ceased on that date.

However, Sandro and his family settled in London around the same time.

Sadly, tragedy struck the family when Sandro as 21, when his father passed away.

Sandro – a keen boxer who also has a background in ballet and breakdancing – turned to baking as a form of therapy.

In his bio for the show, he says he “lives and breathes” baking and enjoys rustling up a tasty treat with the TV on.

He also runs virtual baking classes for children with autism.

Sandro likes to infuse his bakes with flavours from his Angolan heritage – such as the spice of paprika paired with tangy cheese, and sweet bakes smothered in sticky dulce de leche.

The Great British Bake Off begins on Tuesday September 13 at 8pm on Channel 4.