The telly phenomenon that is The Great British Bake Off is back this week.
You know, the little baking show that started in low-key fashion on BBC 2, channel-hopped to BBC 1 last year and pulled in more than 12 million viewers for the final.
More than the Strictly and X Factor finales!
Bake Off has become so big and made judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry so famous, that he of the silvery beard and piercing blue eyes says: “There’s not one place on the planet we could go to where nobody knows who we are. That’s strange, really strange.”
As a dozen nervous new recruits slip on their aprons in the famous big tent, we catch up with Paul and Mary for the inside scoop on all things GBBO.
TV double acts come in two different categories.
Pairings put together for the cameras, perfectly presentable and professional.
Then there are real pals, like Ant and Dec or Bake Off’s Mel and Sue, who exude a rich warmth that’s deeper than a bowl of buttercream.
Within minutes of sitting down to catch up with the judges on TV’s hottest show it’s obvious profess-ionalism has developed into genuine friendship.
When talk turns to a Victorian-themed week during the series Paul’s quick to chip in: “Victorian times I mean, Mary was born within that period.”
“He doesn’t improve,” sighs Mary, with a roll of her eyes.
And a bit of chat about alcohol in the bakes sees her complain that he instantly hands it to her.
“You like your alcohol separate from food don’t you?”
“Yeah, and you like it both at the same time!” is his riposte.
Such is the show’s amazing appeal that Mary has become a later-life she’s 80 now fashion icon who has been labelled a national treasure.
“Well, if it’s anything to do with the clothing, all I’m doing is keeping nice and warm.
“That tent is open up the sides and it’s the most freezing place.
“There are some very good jackets this year, all nice and cosy. And I wear the same pair of jeans.”
Laughs Paul: “Whatever Mary wears is immaterial, it’ll sell out anyway.
“She could come out in hessian bag and it would sell.”
This year’s hopefuls, including Scots Flora and Marie, had to battle their way through a 15,000-strong mountain of entries to reach the tent.
“When they started off they were quite cool and it took them a bit to bond,” reveals Mary.
“They’d obviously watched Bake Off and were very channelled to do their own thing, without looking left or right.”
But as the numbers were whittled down, each getting a Mel and Sue sandwich hug and being prised away from their mixers as they left, friendships were formed.
“I think they were just more nervous this year because last year we had been the biggest show on television,” muses Paul.
“I said to a couple of them: ‘Take it easy, it’ll be fine but this will change your life’.”
He recounts how that’s been the case with previous winners, with baking schools and book deals.
Last year’s champ, gran-of-eight Nancy Birtwhistle, is the exception, focusing more on charity work and family life.
“Nancy hasn’t changed, she’s exactly the same,” says Paul. “She did a demo at the Birmingham NEC and I stood at the back, watching.
“It was like a teacher watching a pupil giving a speech for the first time, she was brilliant.”
One thing this year’s contestants know all too well is, whatever happens and whatever disasters befall, DON’T throw your cake in the bin.
Last year’s “bingate” where Irishman Iain stormed off minus melting and discarded Baked Alaska after finding Diana had removed it from its freezer, was a massive talking point.
“The reason it all kicked off was not because Diana brought it out for 40 seconds,” says Paul. “That wouldn’t melt ice cream.
“But he threw it in the bin. If he’d brought something to us he would probably have stayed in.
“The fact he threw it away is not the right message to give out.”
Adds Mary: “It was ridiculous. Iain will tell you that it was a huge mistake.”
The show has become such a phenomenon that celebrity fans abound, from Will and Kate to pop goddess Taylor Swift.
“I was on the Jonathan Ross Show with Keira Knightley and she said that when she found out that the Bake Off final was on the night of her premiere she didn’t want to go to it,” says a bemused Paul.
Like MasterChef, with its Celebrity and Professional versions, GBBO has become a year-long brand with Comic Relief, kids and Christmas Masterclass incarnations.
But while Mary will be on hand for filming of the Junior series, Paul says he needs to take a break and put his family first.
So, as the nation settles down for their annual dose of sheer feelgood joy, Paul will be chilling out, too.
“They normally film Junior Bake Off during August and the reason I stopped was so I could spend time at home.
“That’s the only time my lad’s off and we’re actually all together.
“I had to make a decision and I chose family.”
Over the coming weeks the nation will once again be gripped as one of the baking dozen edges closer to the Holy Grail of home baking.
And, it seems, we’re in for a “game changer”.
“This final is very exciting,” says Mary, eyes sparkling as she recalls the nail-biting conclusion.
“Usually there’s a bit of a disaster but these were close. It’s undoubtedly the best final we’ve ever had.
“You’ll be surprised. You won’t know until it’s done.”
The baking Scots
Flora
“It was my sister pressuring me to apply which started the ball rolling and then it seemed a great idea,” said 19-year-old Flora.
“Because I am younger I felt very honoured to be picked as I didn’t have as much experience as the other bakers.
“Mel and Sue are to blame for some very sore sides, they kept me laughing. But it’s always going to be daunting to take
something to be judged by Paul and Mary.
“I started baking as a small child and I can’t remember ever not baking.
“I have lots of calamities that I have tried to forget about, but my mum is a master salvager and brings my disasters back from the brink.
“I am not sure how my life will change after the programme goes out. It sounds quite a scary prospect!”
Marie
“I was absolutely gobsmacked as being picked was one of the biggest highlights of my life,” said Marie, 66, who bakes about four days a week and admits it’s her favourite thing.
“This was my high. Some grannies want to bungee jump, but this was it for me.
“I didn’t start baking until I was 36 and my style is Scottish influenced. I like bakes to look fantastic and I love baking birthday cakes for my grandchildren.
“I have had some baking mishaps. I once made a christening cake for my granddaughter and I was so proud of it.
“But when I took it to the venue over the speed bumps, the cake collapsed, and I had to tell people what it looked like before that disaster. It tasted good though.”
The Great British Bake Off, Wednesday, 8pm, BBC 1.
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