‘On Celeb Bake Off I go from genius to absolute disaster’
Kelly Brook tells us about stepping into the famous tent, being body confident and why she’s left her clubbing days behind
Her killer curves have been the envy of women for years. And after shedding 2 stone in 2019 using the SlimFast plan, Heart Radio presenter Kelly Brook has even more of a glow.
Now Kelly, 40, is proving she can still tuck into the odd sweet treat too, after signing up for The
Great Celebrity
Bake Off for Stand
Up To Cancer. But did she rise to the challenge? The star, who lives with her boyfriend Jeremy
Parisi, fills us in…
Hi Kelly. Did you jump at the chance of being on Bake Off?
Yes! It’s one of my favourite shows. When you first see the tent you’re really starstruck. But then it dawns on you that you don’t get any help. They give you a kitchen that you’ve never been in before and say,“Do what you want.”You feel under so much pressure because, ultimately, no matter how bad it is, you’ve got to produce something.
How did you get on?
I tried a cake I’d never really baked before. I found that quite challenging. Some people go in and say, “My grandmother gave me this recipe.”And I said, “I’m just making it up as I go along!”I had strokes of genius and then strokes
of absolute disaster.
What did Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith make of your efforts?
Prue’s an absolute sweetheart. She’s so encouraging and gives lots of advice. Whereas Paul is absolutely terrifying! He gives you a look as if to say, “You’re about to make the biggest mistake ever.” So he’s the bad guy, but all you want is to be awarded Star Baker, or get a Hollywood handshake.
Do you bake in your spare time?
I live a normal life, so I eat normal food and occasionally have cakes. I’m sometimes criticised on social media for tucking into cakes while being a weight-loss ambassador for SlimFast, but I want to show people that that’s the beauty of the plan – you can have your cake and eat it. Because I make them from scratch, I’m in control of what I put in them. However, most of the cakes I bake go to Heart Radio with me, so I might have a taste, but then it goes to the team.
You’ve maintained your weight loss for a year. Has it been hard?
Once I lost the initial weight I wanted to shift it was about incorporating the plan into my lifestyle. What I found in the past is that if I skipped a meal because I was busy,
I’d then sit down and order the most unhealthy thing on the menu because I was starving. But having the SlimFast shakes and snacks with me means I never have that unbelievable hunger. I still get all my nutrients while on the go.
What do you eat during an average day?
I’ll get up and have coffee and maybe a shake. For lunch I’ll have a nice salad with some chicken or salmon. During my radio show I get a bit peckish. Between 3pm and 6pm is the most dangerous time for me, so that’s when I have one of the SlimFast bars.They get me through. Then, when I come home, I might have a small dinner, or maybe a shake. It all depends on how many calories I’ve consumed that day. If I have quite a heavy lunch, I’ll just make sure I don’t have a big dinner.
Is this the best you’ve felt about your body?
My weight has fluctuated over the years due to stress, work, travelling, hormones – so many different things. I’ve never had a lot of anxiety about my weight, so when I started the plan, I just wanted to get to my happy weight. A weight that was comfortable for me, made me feel like I could get in the clothes
I wanted to and was healthy and within my BMI. It was all about finding my “size sexy”and not trying to be super skinny.
You turned 40 last year. Was it a milestone that bothered you?
Working in the media industry there’s so much emphasis on your size and age, but seeing women like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez looking the best they’ve ever looked and also dominating their careers is really empowering. I look up to those women and realise ageing isn’t what it used to be. We know so much more about diet and exercise and also have so many beauty treatments to keep us looking fresh.
Have you noticed changes in your body as you’ve got older?
I can run around the park every day for a week and I won’t lose a pound. It’s a case of accepting and embracing that your body looks different as you get older. And I don’t beat myself up about it
– it’s just part of ageing.
Does fitness play a big part in your life?
The more I exercise, the more hungry I get, which is a terrible situation to be in. I was running a lot over the last couple of years and was really bulking out and getting muscly. So I’ve stopped running and do gentle walking and Pilates instead. I want to be a bit longer and leaner.