PROS ON THEIR MARKS FOR A BAKE OFF SHOWDOWN...
Bake Off: The Professionals is back. Hosts Tom Allen and Liam Charles tell what to expect from the new series
YOU can expect the new series of Bake Off: The Professionals to be the most theatrical yet.
The tasks the competitors are given this year “have a real air of play about them”, based around things like “gardening, the secret world of bugs and even magic”, according to Bromley-born comedian Tom Allen, who presents the show alongside former Great British Bake
Off contestant, Londoner Liam Charles.
And the teams of chefs – from various backgrounds, ranging from owning their own patisserie to a five-star hotel – have really raised the bar this year.
Singapore-born and celebrated pastry chef Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin, who is the head pastry
GEORGIA HUMPHREYS
chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford, return as the judges. Hosts Liam and Tom are on hand to cheer up the chefs when things go wrong. Discussing their techniques for this, Liam – who also presents Channel 4’s Junior Bake Off – notes: “It depends on what the chef is like; you kind of have to gauge it. If they’re one of those chefs that don’t like to show their emotions, then you have to crack a joke or make it light-hearted.
“If they have their cake hearts on their sleeve, you have to go in with a hug and be very sympathetic, which is natural because most of us have experienced something bad happening to our bakes.”
“Liam is much better at it then I am, I can be... I don’t know what the word is, but I’m not very good at being soothing I suppose,” quips stand-up-star Tom, laughing.
“There was one occasion where for some reason I got sent in which was a silly mistake when one of the teams were upset and I had to try and comfort them and they had a real disaster. I tried to be like Liam, but no one believed it and I think I actually made it worse. But, you know, that’s the trials and tribulations, isn’t it, that I suppose makes the show hold together.
“In the end I just made them laugh.”
“Something that’s not always seen is how much time Cherish and Benoit spend with the chefs after the judging and after the team going home has been decided,” elaborates Tom, who regularly appears on comedy panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Mock the Week.
“They sometimes come across as very severe – and that’s right because it’s a tough competition – but I think sometimes people don’t realise how much love and respect both of them have for the chefs.”
Tom admits his kitchen skills have sadly not improved since being involved in the show.
“But I do appreciate things more,” he says enthusiastically.
“This year my favourite one was mille-feuille which I always thought was a custard slice... When it’s done properly it’s really nice, not like those slightly damp skanky pastries I experienced in my youth.”
The main thing that Liam – who has released his own cookbooks since reaching the quarter finals in the eighth series of the main Bake Off show – has learned is to be tidier.
“My approach to baking has definitely changed over these last three years – and how I experiment as well.
“I’m definitely more outgoing. Well, I feel like I was outgoing before, but just a little bit more fun!”
■ Bake Off: The Professionals returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday at 8pm.