Bake Off star in speedy hijinks

PAUL Hollywood has revealed he and Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli were nearly arrested for speeding while filming his new motoring television show.

The Great British Bake Off judge returns to screens with Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip, a BBC Two show which sees him set out to “discover the best and worst of motoring in Italy, Germany and France”.

Hollywood, 51, cited a stint behind the wheel in Rome as one of the most memorable moments from the series.

He told the Press Association: “Driving around Rome has got to be the scariest thing in the world, especially with Bruno Tonioli in an orange Lamborghini.

“We nearly got arrested for speeding around Rome, by another Lamborghini police car. He was petrified, bless him.”

The baking expert will also come face to face with nudists in Germany during his automobile adventure, but said he was not tempted.

He said: “When they [the producers] told me I went, ‘I’m not getting my kit off, it’s not going to happen’.

“It was funny, we were in the Kombi van, just going there and spending a couple of hours with these people, they were very funny, absolutely hilarious. I didn’t know where to look. Never ever take your eye off their eyeball. Just keep your head in one place.”

Hollywood is the only member of Bake Off’s original lineup to move with the show this year when it debuts on Channel 4, following its controversial departure from BBC One.

He will be joined by co-judge Prue Leith and presenters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding, but insisted his friendship with his former co-judge Mary Berry is still going strong.”

The new three-part car series will also give viewers a chance to see the “real” him, he said.

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip airs on BBC Two on May 28 at 9pm.