If Salvador Dali can do a chocolate ad, I can do Bake Off...
Noel Fielding says he isn’t selling out
NEW Bake Off host Noel Fielding confided in friends that he felt joining the show was selling out but said: “If Salvador Dali can do a chocolate advert, it’s fine.”
The quirky Mighty Boosh comedian deliberated with pals after being offered the job alongside Sandi Toksvig to replace presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins on The Great British Bake Off.
The BBC hit drew 15 million viewers before the rights were sold to Channel 4 for £75million, with Mel and Sue saying: “We’re not going with the dough.”
Noel’s close friend, Kasabian star Serge Pizzorno, admitted they weighed up the offer before Noel agreed to sign for a rumoured six-figure fee. “We figured, Salvador Dali did a chocolate advert, so that sort of makes it all right,” he revealed.
In 1968, the artist starred in the TV advert for chocolatiers Lanvin. He was also involved in commercials for Nissan, AlkaSeltzer and Veterano brandy.
Serge, 36, believes Noel, 43, will be “absolutely fantastic” and will change the series.
They had planned to go out and celebrate the deal but Serge told Radio 1 they were reconsidering due to a backlash against Noel from many long-term Bake Off fans who believe the change from Mel and Sue is too extreme.
Guitarist Serge confirmed: “There’s a lot of heat on the man.”
However comedian Jimmy Carr backed “incredible” host Noel, saying: “Bake Off fans are going to love his energy.”
He added of co-host Sandi: “I’ve worked with her a lot on QI and she’s a polymath. The pair of them together will be brilliant. Prue Leith was a great choice as well.”
Prue replaces Mary Berry alongside Paul Hollywood as the show’s judges.
Russell Brand, another pal of Noel’s, tweeted: “Right. If @noelfielding11 can do Bake Off I’m replacing Len on Strictly.”
Len Goodman stepped down at the end of last series and is yet to be replaced.
Noel quipped in response the pair were “representing goths in the mainstream”.
As he was announced for the role, Noel said: “GBBO is one of my favourite shows. I’ve always loved brightly coloured cakes and Sandi Toksvig, so this is a dream come true for me! It’s basically the double.”
Sandi, 58, said: “It is an extraordinary honour. Noel is one of the nicest guys in showbusiness.”
Filming starts next month and the new series will air on C4 later this year.