Paul Hollywood, the renowned Great British Bake Off judge, has opened up about a challenging moment on the Channel 4 show that he’d rather erase from his memory. Since joining Bake Off in 2010, the 59-year-old baker has witnessed countless impressive creations, but also a few notable blunders, especially during the celebrity editions.
One such unforgettable moment involved comedian Alan Carr during the 2018 celebrity Bake Off, which also featured stars like Teri Hatcher, Aisling Bea, and Kadeena Cox. Alan’s attempt to bring the beloved Rainbow characters Zippy, George, and Bungle to life in cake form did not quite hit the mark. Although Prue Leith praised the imagination behind his creation, she admitted the execution fell short of professional standards. Meanwhile, Paul’s candid feedback highlighted the cake’s fragility: “You shouldn’t really be able to snap a sponge. I’ve never seen that before.”
On a recent episode of Alan’s Life’s a Beach podcast, the comedian teased the moment’s ongoing impact, saying, “I was enjoying this until I saw the rainbow cake. That’s triggering me because I was on Bake Off, do you remember?” Paul wittily responded, “I try to delete that from my mind to be honest,” prompting Alan to joke, “You were so horrible.”
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Despite the harsh critique, Alan revealed that his cake remained untouched backstage, as the crew tended to favor the savory bakes over the sweet desserts. Paul confirmed this preference, explaining the team often enjoyed leftover savory items more than the contestants’ sweet treats. The playful exchange continued as Alan humorously threatened to throw Paul’s new cookery book out the window, to which Paul reminded him that the mishap was partly due to not following recipes.
Alan, recalling his baking struggles, admitted he was unfamiliar with using an oven beforehand. The mishaps extended beyond the cake itself, including fogged-up glasses and confusion with the mixer, making his celebrity Bake Off appearance a chaotic but memorable experience.
Ultimately, Teri Hatcher won the celebrity edition, impressing the judges with her skill. Prue declared her the clear Star Baker, completing an entertaining chapter in Bake Off history that left both contestants and judges with stories to tell.