Paul Hollywood: City Bakes

Season 2 Food Network (*175) 20:00 Lifestyle

Paul Hollywood is on his bicycle again in season 2 of his travel food show City Bakes (2016-current) and the 52-yearold British baking star stopped in the Mother City earlier this year to film episode 10 (28 July). “When asked if I wanted to visit South Africa, it was a very easy yes!” says Paul. “There are many bakes on my list to try, but I am particularly looking forward to sampling soetkoekies and koeksisters.”

And it’s not just taste that appeals to Paul, who took sculpture classes after high school but dropped out when his dad convinced him to join their family bakery. “Any form of baking is a work of art. There’s a great deal of technique that goes into making flavours look as good as they taste,” explains Paul. He should know – Paul’s been one of the strict confectionery and baking judges on reality show The Great British BakeOff (2010-current).

City Bakes is different though, as Paul isn’t judging people on their baking but rather learning more about the different skills and talents around the world. But there’s still something he finds daunting: meeting people. “I’m shy and can’t get over the fact that people know me. I’m still in that zone where I don’t consider myself a celebrity,” he says. Tough job, but someone’s got to do it – and this season’s going to take Paul everywhere from Palermo and Dublin to Los Angeles and Cape Town.

While his sweet-tooth took over in CT when Paul visited Charly’s Bakery, some of the treats he is sampling this season include sausage rolls in Antwerp (episode 4, 16 June), croissants in Reykjavik (episode 6, 30 June) and falafel in Jerusalem (episode 9, 21 July).