‘Pizza night with Paul Hollywood’ Dorset’s Bake-Off contestant tells all
70-year-old Maggie reveals what it’s like behind the scenes
Last updated 12th Oct 2021
Every week we watch our Great British Bake Off contestants pour their heart and souls in to their delicious bakes but, we never get to hear much about what goes on behind the scenes.
Maggie, our Dorset contestant says this year’s group is really close.
Like last year, the team of bakers, presenters and production team had to bubble together in a hotel, because of Covid-19.
As a result, the team have a whatsapp group, which Maggie says they share at least 30 message a day in.
“You can’t help but form a bond with people that you live with under such close circumstances. We all had dinner together and then most people wanted to go and phone their friends and family to tell them about the day.
“You are woken up at 5:30am/6am the next morning so everyone had an early night, the days on sets are 12/14 hour long days all filled with great fun you all great very tired.
“There have been reports of all night parties, but the days are so long, and you’re so tired at the end of the day.
“The organisation has to be completely commended really, it was so well done and all the staff and hotel staff, the catering was fantastic, it is much more intense as a process.”
Last year, it was rumoured that judge Paul Hollywood treated the contestants to a bingo night. Maggie says this year he treated them to something tasty.
“Paul Hollywood, did come along in to the catering tent and brought his pizza ovens with him and made pizza for us one night. It was delicious.”
THIS WEEK IT’S DESSERT WEEK
Could the Bake Off contestants find themselves in a sticky situation with the judges as they attempt to make some sugary treats.
“It is almost definitely not going to be my sort of week, although I love making desserts, but I very rarely eat them, I haven’t got a terribly sweet tooth and occasionally people say to me "are you in the right show Maggie.
“I love creating them as there are a lot of things that I haven’t heard of or never made but since the show I have got much more adventurous. I think through the Bake Off process, I say quite a lot I am a traditional baker, which implies boring to a certain extent.
“But you have to make things for the Bake off that you never dreamt of making and I am suddenly making things that I thought wow that’s amazing. I usually make cakes for other people, birthdays or whatever, I do like citrus flavours, but in the last 10 or 20 years flavours have become a lot stronger.”
You can watch Maggie on Channel 4's Bake Off tonight at 8pm