'Great British Bake Off' Judge Paul Hollywood Says He's Edited To Look Mean, And Rules Out 'Top Gear' Job
I'm Edited To Look Mean, Claims Bake Off Judge
Caroline Frost— The Huffington Post UK
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Paul Hollywood claims he's nothing like as mean as he comes across on 'Great British Bake Off', saying his compassionate approach to the contestants and their efforts is regularly edited out.
"All my criticism is constructive," he said at the Radio Times Festival. "They may cut the edit where I turn round and say, ‘It looks like you piped that from 15 foot up.' But what you didn’t see is my lead up to that, because what I would actually have said is, 'You should have piped it from here, and then drawn your piping from this side to create this.'
"But all you see is the last bit, and everybody goes, ‘Oh you’re so critical!’"
He also said that there were plenty of moments where he has consoled upset bakers, but that too has not made the final cut.
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Paul Hollywood says his soft centre is never shown in 'The Great British Bake Off'
"There have been a couple of times this year where they’ve cried," he said. "I walk from the ‘altar’ [where the bakers serve Paul and Mary Berry the bakes], and I give them a hug, and I whisper to them, ‘It’s OK, it’s only a baking show. You’ll be back for the next challenge. Don’t worry.’ I walk back, and then they cut all that out!"
Paul also used his panel at the Festival to rule out categorically that he'll be joining Chris Evans on the new version of 'Top Gear', despite spending the last year earning a motorsport license, racing round the Le Mans 24 Hour circuit and driving some of the most iconic Aston Martin cars in the world.
"Never," he said at the Festival. Instead, Paul will present a one-off new car show for BBC2 at 8pm on Sunday night, the 'Top Gear' slot.
"It’s an hour programme about the history of Aston Martin," he explained about 'License to Thrill: Paul Hollywood Meets Aston Martin'. "I got to drive some of the most iconic Aston Martins around the world. I ended up driving some of the best cars they’ve ever produced. They followed me around for some of my racing last year," he added. "I saw it for the first time last week, and went, ‘Is that me?’ My wife saw it and said, ‘I didn’t know you went that fast.’ Mary just hit me round the head! I was going far too fast for her."
Of the changes to 'Top Gear', Paul said last year he was "upset" about the way the BBC handled the Jeremy Clarkson fracas, however, he has since spoken to Chris Evans and has every confidence in his ability to keep viewers with the new show.
"I think Chris will do a good job with Top Gear," he said. "I was talking to him about it recently, and I said what will probably happen is loads of people will watch the first one."
He said Evans had managed it before, taking over from Terry Wogan on breakfast on BBC Radio 2: "He’s taken over from Terry Wogan on Radio 2 and made it his own.
"Initially there will be a massive peak," he added. "I think it will drop, and then it will pick up again."
He concluded: "I think he will make it his own – but not with me."
Flora, Ian, Tamil and Nadiya will compete in the semi-final on Wednesday, which will see them dealing with all things chocolate - tarts for the signature dish, a chocolate souffle for the technical round, and then chocolate centrepieces for the showstopper.
Who do YOU think is destined to be this year's Great British Baker? Check out the original lineup below...
'Great British Bake Off' 2015: Meet The Contestants
Stu, 35(01 of12)
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Stu’s a professional musician and has toured the world as lead singer of his band. He lives in Surrey with his wife and two children and has been baking from a young age. He used to watch his parents in the restaurant kitchen they owned and was always amazed by the magic of the oven and "how something liquid could go in and out would come this fluffed-up awesomeness". He is confident with most genres of baking and is fascinated by the science of it all. He enjoys trialling different flavour combinations, especially Middle Eastern spices. (credit:BBC)
Ugne, 32(02 of12)
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While baking is her main hobby, Ugne is also a bodybuilder. Originally from Lithuania, Ugne now lives in Essex with her partner, also a bodybuilder, and their two young children, and works as a PA and administrator. Ugne learnt to bake from her mother and grandmother, who used Eastern European baking methods and utensils. She loves English baking and each day makes her family bread, pies and pastries, but also likes to incorporate traditional Lithuanian flavours into her bakes to remind her of home. Ugne enjoys being ambitious with her presentation and ingredients - and isn’t afraid of the odd theatrical bake. (credit:BBC)
Paul, 49(03 of12)
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Paul lives in Wales and has been a prison governor for eight years. Before that, he performed ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace in the Coldstream Guards. He sees being in The Great British Bake Off as “an opportunity to show that men like me, stereotyped by our jobs, do and can love baking and that it is a skill and talent to be proud of". He may have a demanding, authoritative job, but Paul enjoys learning intricate skills like sugar-work to make his bakes beautiful. When not baking, Paul loves the outdoors and exploring the Welsh countryside with his wife and three sons. (credit:BBC)
Nadiya, 30(04 of12)
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Nadiya has been baking for 10 years after wondering why her father only served ice cream for dessert at his restaurant. Her family is originally from Bangladesh, where desserts aren't a big feature of mealtimes, but encouraged by a school home economics teacher, Nadiya now delivers beautiful masterpieces at family occasions. Born in Luton, she now lives in Leeds with her husband and is full time mum to their three children. Having put her career on the backburner to devote her life to her family, with their support she now feels inspired to have her own adventure - and make them proud. (credit:BBC)
Tamal, 29(05 of12)
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Tamal is a trainee anaesthetist working at a hospital in Manchester. He grew up in Hertfordshire where his parents moved from India in the 1960s. His older sister played a big part in bringing him up and taught him to bake. She gave Tamal the ultimate compliment when he was asked to bake her wedding cake. Since then, he is regularly asked to bake family and friends' wedding cakes too - the largest one was five tiers. (credit:BBC)
Flora, 19(06 of12)
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At 19, Flora is this year’s youngest baker. An old head on young shoulders, Flora’s an assistant at a contemporary art gallery while she waits to start her history of art degree. Flora lives at home with her parents and two younger sisters in the Scottish countryside, 20 minutes from the nearest shop. But she always makes sure the larder is stocked, and regularly bakes cakes and loaves for the family, often filling the freezer up with ingredients. Flora comes from a big family of bakers and can’t remember ever not baking. But standards have to be high to impress her harshest critics – her sisters. (credit:BBC)
Alvin, 37(07 of12)
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Alvin is originally from the Philippines, and works as a nurse in Berkshire, where he lives with his wife and their two children. He’s constantly jotting down everything from recipes to techniques so he can pass all his knowledge on to them both as they grow up. Seven years ago, he questioned why he was buying bread and cakes when he had an oven. And now he bakes at least four times a week and owns every tin imaginable - much to his wife’s amusement. A true perfectionist, Alvin once baked bread every day for three weeks until he believed he’d got it right. (credit:BBC)
Dorret, 53(08 of12)
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Dorret’s family are from the West Indies but she grew up in Preston and works as an accountant. A self-confessed foodie, Dorret has been baking for 40 years and enjoys tap dancing, ballet and salsa to counteract the calories she consumes. Dorret and her husband regularly visit Michelin-starred restaurants for inspiration and ideas for their next culinary experiment, and often host dinner parties to impress their friends with their skills. Mother to her 21-year-old daughter, Dorret’s dream is to go to the Cordon Bleu school in Paris. (credit:BBC)
Ian, 41(09 of12)
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Ian lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife and two children. He’s a travel photographer and has the honour of being the Dalai Lama’s personal snapper when he visits the UK. In recent years, Ian’s become more of a househusband and while his wife heads to work he often spends his days making giant catapults and zip wires for his children to play with. He started baking six years ago because he wanted them to have fresh bread every day. Ian’s passion for foraging and travelling the world mean he’s never afraid to bake with an unusual discovery from his garden - or much further afield. (credit:BBC)
Marie, 66(10 of12)
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Marie was entered for The Great British Bake Off by her daughter, but her children claim at one point when they were growing up their mum couldn’t even boil an egg - so Marie’s come a long way. The turning point came in her thirties when Marie moved to Paris with her family and was inspired by all the French Patisseries. She fell in love with baking, specialising in elaborate, show-stopping decorations. But Marie also likes simple baking too and makes bread so her grandchildren can have “proper packed lunches”. (credit:BBC)
Mat, 37(11 of12)
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Mat began baking three years ago in between shifts as a London fire fighter. He’s now mastered not only simple cakes and biscuits but bread, pastries and pies. Preferring sweet over savoury baking, Mat calls himself a “competent amateur” who “learns every time he bakes”. Mat lives with his wife in London. He says his greatest ambition is to own a dishwasher. (credit:BBC)
Sandy, 49(12 of12)
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Sandy is a child welfare officer who lives and works near Bradford. Mother of one, Sandy says that she bakes to show her family, friends and colleagues that she cares about them. Sandy started baking as a child and likens her style to the way she’d describe herself: “it might not be glamorous but it’s tasty”. In her job, she helps young people with emotional issues and after work Sandy also volunteers at the school, running a cookery club where she teaches children from deprived backgrounds to bake on a budget. (credit:BBC)