Bake Off loses its sweet tooth after contestants say they prefer savoury
With the latest incarnation starting tonight, a new era of sugar-free healthy bakes may be on the horizon
IT IS famed for its spectacular cakes and mouth-watering treats. But it turns out that many of the contestants picked for this year’s new-look Great British Bake Off don’t have a sweet tooth.
One contestant has even revealed that they don’t eat their own cakes. Speaking ahead of the start of the new series tonight, Flo, who is the baking show’s oldest ever contestant at 71, said: “I don’t really eat cakes, I would eat savoury by choice.”
It comes after suggestions that the new Channel 4 series of show may be the dawn of a new healthier, Bake Off.
Earlier this month, new judge Noel Fielding admitted that he won’t be eating cake during the series.
The 44-year-old Mighty Boosh star said that while he “does have a sweet tooth” he will be laying off the treats because
“no one likes a tubby gut”.
He said: “I don’t eat anything, I’m like a plant. It’s not that I don’t like cake – I have a sweet tooth. But I played [US singer] Alice Cooper and I had to lose a stone, so I wasn’t eating sugar. You can’t just get straight back on to it, it’s quite powerful.” And in another sign that a more austere era of Bake Off may be approaching, however, fellow judge, Prue Leith, has called for contestants to use less sugar in their creations.
The cookery writer and restaurateur said the British diet is flawed by too much fat and sugar.
It may be just as well, then, that this year’s crop of contestants appear to be the most health-conscious in the show’s history.
Peter, an IT programme manager from London, said: “I prefer savoury, as I generally do not have a sweet tooth. While I like to delight people with baking sweet things, I generally gravitate towards my savoury bakes.”
Yan, a scientist from Hong Kong, admitted: “I tend not to eat my own sweet bakes. I prefer savoury, my favourites are usually bread based.”
However, sugar-shy contestants may wish to take note that attempts at healthier baking have not been well received in previous series. Nadiya Hussain, the 2015 winner, advised contestants against sugarfree and fat-free baking, saying it amounted to “flavour-free”.
Ugne Bubnaityte, a 2015 contestant, said her attempts at healthy baking had not been met with approval by the judges.
The comments are a contrast to former presenters Mel and Sue, who appeared to delight in the weekly tasting sessions. The new series airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.