His beard may not be big and bushy, – in fact, nothing like a Claus shave – but Paul ho-ho-Hollywood points to his trim white whiskers and declares: “I am looking very Santa.”
He is chatting about giving Bake Off fans the gift of a Christmas special, which this year, for the first time ever, has an all-soap star cast of contestants.
Natalie Cassidy and Dean Gaffney of EastEnders, Chris Bisson and Sheree Murphy from Emmerdale, and Corrie favourite Shobna Gulati will all battle it out to be star baker.
Paloma Faith will belt out a Christmas classic . It is the one part of the show 58-year-old Paul really dislikes – because of the dad dancing he has to do. He says: “Paloma’s great. We had a really good time. But do you know what? It’s cringe-fest for me. I have to stand there… bopping around. Oh, God! I feel so cringey.” And his fellow judge, Prue Leith and hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond know it.
Paul says: “I said to Prue on the way to the stage where Paloma was, ‘God, I hate this. I really do not like this’. And she said, ‘I know’. Of course, all the crew love the fact I don’t like it and wind me up constantly. They say, ‘Can we get a bit more movement, Paul?’ I go, ‘Oh, stop it! Stop it.”
He may not be mad on dancing, but he’s crackers about Christmas. He says: “I have two trees and the fire on. I get very festive. I bought a snow machine, one of those little cannon things, and coated the front of the house on Christmas Eve. That’s how bad it is for me. It’s just like a soapy thing and it dissolves, but it’s quite effective.”
He is a big kid at heart when it comes to presents. He says: “Buy something for a 14-year-old kid and you’ll be on the mark with me.” He loves nothing better than building a Lego kit after Christmas dinner. He says: “I’ll forget about everything else, put on a bit of music, put on my magnifying glasses because I can’t see what I’m doing, and just build away. I thoroughly enjoy it.”
He also admits he loves watching the 2004 movie, The Polar Express, because it reminds him of son Josh. He says: “I have to watch that film. It takes me back to when my lad was young. Polar Express is a big thing for me. It makes me feel Christmassy. And I love the 2009 A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey. I love the music in it, I just think it’s fantastic.”
Paul doesn’t say much about the Christmas special, but does reveal that Dean, 46, struggled. He says: “You could tell Natalie had baked before and Sheree was doing her best. Shobna was decent. The guys did quite well as well. Well, Dean didn’t. Dean struggled, bless him, but Chris did an amazing job.”
But he might be biased as he and wife Melissa are big Emmerdale fans. He says: “We actually went to the Emmerdale set. I had a pint in the Woolpack, and Mel pulled a pint.”
Fellow judge Prue also admits to being a big soap fan. She says: I very often don’t know celebrity bakers if they’re singers. I certainly don’t know them if they’re comedians and, as for influence, I don’t know them either.
“The lovely thing about this lot was shows like EastEnders, Emmerdale and the Street have been going for 40, 50 and 60 years, so I know about them. I loved having them in the tent.” She then reveals it’s still a huge ambition of hers to be invited onto a soap. “I would love to be invited,” she adds. “That would be huge fun.”
Natalie Cassidy: I had to add a fag to my Dot biscuit..
I’ve worked in TV for 30 years, but for this you’re really you on the telly, you are in the Bake Off tent. It was amazing.
For my showstopper, I made biscuit versions of Dot, Peggy and Wellard [as part of an Albert Square scene with the tree and ghosts of Christmas past].
They didn’t quite look like them, so I added a fag to Dot and that worked! My worst moment was when Albert Square ended up looking more like Stonehenge – that was a bit of a disaster but I enjoyed the praise I got from Paul and Prue for my mincemeat.
I have to stand there bopping around. I feel so cringe-y
Chris Bisson: I would say I’m a cowboy baker
Walking into the tent was magical. Even though I work in TV, it still takes you by surprise.
I had butterflies in my tummy. The whole thing becomes very real when you see the tent.
I would describe myself as a cowboy baker and I was definitely winging it. But I would say it was the most stressful fun that you can have.
It was a bit daunting to be judged by Paul and Prue, and they played the good cop, bad cop routine well. But I think we got off lightly because it was a Christmas special.
Sheree Murphy: It was a treat to bake for them
It was a real pinch-me moment. I couldn’t stop smiling. It was a treat to be baking in the tent for Prue and Paul.
My showstopper [creating Emmerdale’s Woolpack pub] was a good challenge but very difficult and really stressful.
Dean Gaffney [pictured left] really didn’t know what he was doing, so I was trying to help him as much as I could!
As for the judging, Paul gives you a look to intimidate you, but they were both very sweet.
Shobna Gulati: It’s good cop bad cop.. we know who!
The programme is iconic and you look at the tent and you just think “wow”.
The moment was awesome.
It was a bit scary (being judged). It is good cop and bad cop – I think we know which one is which! Prue is so encouraging and Paul will tell you when he likes your flavours.
Alison is just brilliant, so buoyant, and Noel keeps it on the slightly quirky, weird side.
My resolution for 2025? To learn to be a brilliant baker and astound everyone with my baking skills!
The Great Christmas Bake Off, Channel 4, Christmas Eve, 8pm
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