Saturday Magazine – August 24, 2019

On your

mar ks,

get set...

BA KE!

R

oll up your sleeves, tie on

your pinnies and hang the bunting

• Bake Off is back! But which of this
  year’s hopefuls will rise to the
  challenge to become Star Baker – and who
  will crumble faster than badly made pastry?
  One thing’s for sure, tensions will be
  running high as the show returns for its 10th
  instalment. Thirteen contestants rather than
  the usual 12 are heading into the famous tent
  this time, all hoping to impress judges Paul
  Hollywood and Prue Leith. And because of
  the expanded line-up, we can expect two
  hopefuls to exit at once during one
  particularly nerve-jangling week.
  ‘It’s really tough,’ agrees Paul. ‘We have
  a baker’s dozen this year for the first time
  since series four. But all of them have
  coped well, and their resilience and
  enthusiasm are amazing.’
  As usual, there will be Signature, Technical
  and Showstopper bakes each episode, with
  week one challenging the new intake to
  create fruit cakes – and they pulled out all the
  stops, according to Prue.
  ‘I think as it’s the first week there are a
  few nerves going on and a lot of adrenaline

running high, as they get used to the tent and

the many cameras.

‘From this very first episode, we see the

bakers show off their personalities and tell

family stories. They are endlessly imaginative

and sometimes I feel my ideas are quite banal

when I see what they have come up with.’

Back to comfort and cajole the

contestants as they roll, knead, pipe and

caramelise their way through the 10-week

series are Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding,

who always provide a cheeky antidote to

Paul’s sharp-tongued criticisms.

‘Sandi is so kind and looks after us all, and

Noel is adorable and sweet,’ says Prue.

‘With Noel, it’s like having a big puppy

around. He’s enthusiastic, excitable and a bit

mad. I admire him a lot.’

As for Paul, Prue tactfully observes, ‘What

I love about him is that he is so direct on

most things... And I think he could give a

masterclass on how not to blink!’

The country’s best home

bakers prepare to do

battle as The Great British

Bake Off returns. We get

the low-down on the new

series from judges Paul

Hollywood and Prue Leith

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

Tue 8pm C

NEW

8 SATURDAY MAGAZINE