Great British Bake Off: Paul Hollywood admits he made new contestants CRY with his criticism as he insists youngest ever lineup ‘need to listen more’
The 2019 Great British Bake Off line-up is the youngest ever with an average age of 31.
And judge Paul Hollywood, who is famously tough to please, has admitted emotions were high among the young bakers during filming, with tears flowing thanks to his harsh critiques.
Speaking ahead of the new series which begins on Channel 4 on Tuesday, the judge, 53, confessed he was extra tough on the amateur bakers because of their age.
Tough: Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood has admitted emotions were high among the young bakers during filming for the 2019 series
In an interview with The Mirror, Paul recalled of filming in the famous tent: ‘There were times when there was a bit of a disaster on one of the technicals. I walked in and saw it and sort of had a go at them, which caused a little bit of emotion.’
‘Yes I made them cry. They’re more pack animals now. Upset one and they all get upset.’
Paul added that the young ages of the bakers meant he ‘hardened up a little bit this year actually.’
Hopefuls: The 2019 Great British Bake Off line-up is the youngest ever with an average age of 31, and Paul admits he made many of them cry during filming
‘When they’re younger, they need to start somewhere and sometimes they don’t listen. A couple of them didn’t listen and I went over and taught the point again and again and again and again, and they still didn’t get it.
‘The ones that did start to listen, to both Prue [Leith] and I… got better. There’s a couple of them that didn’t, that just fell away, because you need to listen.’
This year’s eagerly awaited series is championing younger cake makers as the line-up is made up of seven people in their 20’s, while the oldest contestant is 56, and the average age inside the tent is 31.
Back for more: For the third year the show will be hosted by fan favourites Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig and judged by Paul and Prue Leith
And, to be expected, the competitors are a diverse group of amateur bakers including a geography teacher, a fashion designer, a HGV driver and vet.
The series has also boosted its numbers with 13 bakers taking part, instead os the usual 12.
For the third year the show will be hosted by fan favourites Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig and judged by Paul and Prue Leith.
Sandi and Noel joined the baking show when it moved from BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, where they replaced Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, who had hosted the show for six years.
Also deciding not to make the move to the channel was Mary Berry.
The new series of The Great British Bake Off will begin on Channel 4 on August 27 at 8pm.
Ouch: Paul recalled of filming in the famous tent: ‘There were times when there was a bit of a disaster on one of the technicals. I walked in and saw it and sort of had a go at them’
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2019: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Piece of cake: Geography teacher Alice uses her baking creations to to demonstrate natural events to her student
Sew in love with baking: Amelia is a sportswear designer who worked on her baking skills when she was at university
ALICE
AMELIA
Age: 28
Occupation: Geography teacher
Why Bake Off? Alice started baking at the age of 15 when a back operation for scoliosis left her unable to do sport. She now uses her cakes in her lessons, demonstrating natural events such as coastal erosion and volcanic activity with her edible creations
Age: 24
Occupation: Fashion designer
Why Bake Off? Born to a Caribbean father and a half-British/half-Polish mother, Amelia honed her baking skills while at university, baking for friends and college fundraising events. She currently lives in London and works as a sportswear designer
The early bird catches the worm: Working early shifts gives Phil plenty of time to practice his baking
PHIL
Age: 56
Occupation: HGV driver
Why Bake Off? Working early shifts as a driver means he is able to spend the rest of his day cooking for his wife and two daughters as well as baking treats for his motorcycle meetings with friends
The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach: Dan became serious about baking a while trying to impress his no wife, Laura
DAN
Age: 32
Occupation: Support worker
Why Bake Off? Dan became serious about baking at the age of 21 while trying to impress his girlfriend Laura, who is now his wife, with a themed birthday cake. Dan, who lives with Laura and their three dogs, even made their wedding cake
Mediterranean inspiration: Helena’s Spanish roots will play a big role in her bakes
HELENA
Age: 40
Occupation: Online project manager
Why Bake Off? Helena’s introduction to baking came at a young age as she watched her Spanish grandmother in the kitchen, but it was moving to Las Vegas and living with a Mormon family for a school exchange trip that prompted her to start baking herself
On a roll: Jamie was inspired to make a plaited loaf following watching Bake Off
JAMIE
Age: 20
Occupation: Part-time waiter
Why Bake-off? Jamie, who is an identical twin, was taught the basics by his grandmother and his parents, but it was after watching an episode of Bake Off and being inspired to make a plaited loaf that really saw his baking passion take hold
Home grown: David’s mum refused to buy bread from the shop when he was younger leading to him being inspired to bake
DAVID
Age: 36
Occupation: International health adviser
Why Bake Off? Having grown up in rural Yorkshire with a mother who would always bake and refuse to buy a loaf from the shops, Dan was inspired to bake as a child. He became further interested in the art of baking after travelling to where he learnt to build an oven out of an oil drum
Hollywood fan: Henry became interested in baking after seeing Paul Hollywood on the way to school
HENRY
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Why Bake Off? Henry became interested in all things culinary and baking at the age of 12, as he was intrigued by the Bake Off tent at the end of his road, he shared: ‘I used to see Paul Hollywood when I walked past the tent to go to school in the mornings’
Home is where the heart is: Michelle, who grew up on a farm, has been a lover of baking since she was a child
MICHELLE
Age: 35
Occupation: Print shop administrator
Why Bake Off? Michelle, who grew up on a farm, has been a lover of baking since she was a child, watching her mother whip up traditional bakes. She now bakes almost every other day, whether it is a loaf of bread or a dessert for her husband and teenage son
Zen baker: Priya began baking as a way to de-stress and relax
PRIYA
Age: 34
Occupation: Marketing consultant
Why Bake Off? Priya started to take baking seriously 10 years ago as a means to relax. A wedding present of a stand mixer seven years ago only boosted her passion even more, and she is known to toil for hours into the night baking bread
Mum’s the word: Michael was shown the baking ropes by his mum
MICHAEL
Age: 26
Occupation: Theatre manager and fitness instructor
Why Bake Off? Michael was taught to bake by his mother using old, handwritten recipes passed down from her grandparents. Born in Newcastle, he was raised in Scone in Scotland from the age of seven and later studied in Edinburgh, and he considers himself Scottish
Night time baker: Vet Rosie likes to bake through the night after work
ROSIE
Age: 28
Occupation: Veterinary surgeon
Why Bake Off? Rosie’s passion for baking started when she was given a baking book at the age of five, and it has continued into her adult life. When she is not treating sick animals, she can be found baking through the night to unwind
Taking the biscuit: Self -taught Steph took up baking after her grandfather inspired her
STEPH
Age: 28
Occupation: Shop assistant
Why Bake Off? Steph took up baking when her grandfather inspired her thanks to his love of homemade bread. Although it has long been a hobby of hers, she really became serious around three years ago and is largely self-taught
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