‘I do like Paul, that twinkle-eyed Scouser’
Comedians Russell Brand and Jon Richardson on stepping into that very famous tent for a good cause…
Why are you supporting Stand Up To Cancer?
RUSSELL: It affects everybody. One of my mates has just had a massive brain tumour and keeps having to have it operated on. My mum has had cancer six times since I’ve been alive. My mate’s mum just died. It’s everywhere. You want to help people as it’s so prevalent and present.
JON: I lost my uncle and a friend of mine, Ellen, this year. For them – and for everyone I’ve lost to cancer, and for everyone who anyone has lost to cancer – I think there’s a lot of work still to be done. We’ve got to keep the foot to the pedal.
Can you bake?
R: No, not really. Well I did just bake something – contrary to my beliefs about myself, it’s possible for me to do baking. It was brownies and it went quite well, and I’m actually rather pleased with it.
J: I sort of feel like baking is just like chocolate and butter and sugar and that’s always nice, so I think anyone can bake, you can put those things together and it will come out all right.
Who do you want to impress most in the tent?
R: Paul, because I do like that twinkle-eyed Scouser.
J: If I get a compliment from Paul I’ll know I’ve cooked a good cake. I’d like Prue just to admire me in general.
Are you competitive?
R: I am, but I have the worst combination of competitiveness and ineptitude. If you’re competitive you’ve got to be good, and sadly I’m not. I’ve set a goal for myself – not to be banned from Bake Off before it ends.
J: I am competitive in some things, but I think you have to be aware that you’ve been booked as a comedian, so I shall aim to be funny, by that I mean terrible, and if the bakes don’t turn out, well I’d like it to be known that I did that on purpose to create maximum entertainment value. If it turns out to be funny and they’re amazing and I get the apron, then I don’t have to buy a Christmas present for my sister. She would love the apron, she wants it big time. She wants the apron more than me.
How do you rate your chances?
J: Russell is a dark horse. He’ll play the whole, “I don’t know what I’m doing”, but actually he’ll know exactly what he’s doing! He’ll pull it out of the bag, he has some sort of trick, I’m sure.
Are you more likely to get a Hollywood handshake or a soggy bottom?
J: A soggy bottom, definitely. I’m not a big handshake man anyway to be honest, not one for physical contact, I’ll take a Hollywood nod.
R: I’ve had both before I got here, but one must always aim for the Hollywood handshake.
If you were a baked good, what would you be?
R: A fairy cake. A cupcake, an English one. J: A Battenberg, it’s square and beige like I am.