Bake Off? Piece of cake

Host Sandi Toksvig dismisses pressure for hit with new show

SANDI Toksvig insists she feels no heat as the start of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off looms tomorrow.

The 59-year-old TV host is sure she and Noel Fielding will rise to the occasion and fill the aprons of BBC1 stars Mel & Sue.

“You wouldn’t go into it if you just decided it was all about the pressure,” says Sandi.

“You do it because it’s fun and jolly, you can’t spend your day going: ‘I’m responsible for the nation feeling well.’”

Some viewers will prefer the BBC1 version – which also starred Mary Berry – no matter how well Sandi, Noel and other newbie Prue Leith fare with original judge Paul Hollywood.

But Sandi adds: “You don’t go into it thinking: ‘Oh my God’… I took over QI from Stephen Fry.

“The four of us have a wonderful time together, we love being in the tent and we love the bakers.”

Co-host Noel insists the pair use plenty of innuendo. Some of their jokes are so risky, they had to be edited out. “There’s lots and lots of things we said they can’t use,” he said.

Paul Hollywood, 51, has admitted it “hurt” when critics slammed him as a traitor for sticking with the show.

He said: “It was one of the worst things I’ve experienced. It hurt. I wanted to be loyal to the guys that were loyal to me. I’m glad I went with the show.”

The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4 tomorrow, 8pm.

LOVING IT Sandi & co-host Noel