GREAT British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood would love the hit series to go global by running a competition to find out who is the world’s best baker – and predicts the Brits could win.
He has judged the series since its start 16 years ago, and will resume his important duties as the show returns this week.
From left: Noel Fielding, Prue Leith, Alison Hammond and Paul Hollywood[/caption]
And Paul, who co-judges with Dame Prue Leith, says the standard of baking has increased to the point where it is literally world class.
He said: “I think there should be an international Bake Off challenge. There are versions of the show all over the world, from France to America, Italy to Israel, Brazil to the Middle East.
“There should be an international one to see who is the best.
“I think Britain would challenge most of the others, that’s how good they are now.”
“I think the standard of the baking has been phenomenal. It was unbelievable. Proper borderline professional from the off.”
Paul went on to confirm that both he and Prue get on like a house on fire both on and off camera, alongside hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Describing life behind the scenes after filming, Paul explained: “We’d all congregate together, almost as if we were all hanging out our washing.
“So, we’d sit there and chat, and put the world to rights.”
Prue agrees with Paul that there seems to be no ceiling when it comes to the quality of the bakers, which means Bake Off could feasibly be on our screens forever.
She said: “Every year, I think it can’t get any better but it does.”
Alison — who joined the series as a host three years ago — agrees and says that with every passing year viewers become more invested in the participating bakers.
She said: “It’s amazing how halfway through you see someone leave and you get that frog in your throat and you think, ‘Why am I caring so much?”
Talking about this year’s talented competitors, Alison added: “It’s a lovely season. I think with the bakers, they know it could be life-changing as well.
“They have watched the show, they have seen certain people, how they have gone on, done books and things like that, it’s a life-changing experience, so winning is so important to them as well.”
Of almost equal importance to Alison is not gorging too much on the cakes that the contestants produce, however she insists that she’s now counteracted the temptation she felt when she first started.
She said: “I am better than I was — I am a lot more disciplined now.”
ALL HANDS OFF DECK FOR PAUL
THERE may be the usual mix of top bakers and banter on this year’s series, but there’s one mainstay you’ll see a little less of – the famous Hollywood handshake.
It’s the bit of palm pressing that comes when Paul Hollywood is so impressed by a creation he has to congratulate them personally.
And it has become so synonymous with the show that he’s even trademarked the phrase.
In the new season he admits he didn’t dish them out willy nilly, adding: “I held back on a few. There were certainly a few handshakes, but I’m a bit meaner with them nowadays.”
How could you Paul?
WHY THE TENT IS CRUCIAL
THE contestants, hosts and even the judges and location can change, but one thing will always stay the same . . . the Bake Off tent.
Even though it is at the mercy of our changeable weather, Prue Leith insists that it’s an essential part of the show.
She said: “Quite often people say to me, ‘Why on earth do you do this in a tent?’ I mean, it’s freezing cold or it’s boiling hot or the wind gets through – but it wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t in the tent.
“It’s not just that it’s the sort of old-village atmosphere that it was originally based on – the idea of a village cake show.
“But it’s also because now that’s part of the challenge, they have to deal with the weather, most cooks don’t!”
ROB BRYDON’s Destination X romped to a tense finale on Friday, with underdog Judith Magambo crowned winner.
Despite bagging £100k in the BBC’s round-the-globe race, the nuclear engineer clocked in for work the next Monday.
Rob Brydon’s Destination X romped to a tense finale on Frida[/caption]
Underdog Judith Magambo was crowned winner[/caption]
She said: “I did it against all the odds. Because in that final, I went into it with less advantage.
“Josh and Saskia had 100% just cancelled me out.
“So I was like I’ve got to give it my all. It was amazing.”
Over on ITV, Stephen Mangan also wrapped similar strategy game The Fortune Hotel where couple Nella and Tope took home £200k.
The kind-hearted duo, who are both in finance, donated £5k of their winnings to fellow player Briony to help with her fertility treatment.
Tope said: “Kindness is infectious!”