Candice Brown
Former Bake Off queen Candice Brown tells about her debut film role – and getting her hands dirty in her own pub
Since being crowned winner of The Great British Bake Off in 2016, Candice Brown’s career has been on the rise. She’s donned sequins and skates for Dancing On Ice, held court on Loose Women , been victorious on Celebrity Mastermind and recently filmed a role in new British movie Love Sarah. But her latest venture may be her most challenging yet – she’s now running a pub with husband Liam Macaulay and her brother Ben!
Known for her love of superbright lipstick, the former PE teacher, 34, married tree surgeon Liam last September in a lavish French château ceremony. The pair first met in a bar and Liam proposed in 2017, a year after more than 14 million GBBO viewers watched Candice bake her way to victory.
With the star knee-deep in her duties as landlady of The
Green Man in
Eversholt, near
Milton Keynes,
new! found out more about life behind the bar
– as well as her acting ambitions and thoughts on cruel critics and body-shaming…
Hi Candice! How are you finding married life?
Great. I’d like to say it seems complete now, but it’s exactly the same. Nothing has changed – apart from the ring on my finger! Who does most of the cooking at home?
I tend to. Liam is an incredible cook and he used to do a lot, but after Bake Off he said, “There’s absolutely no point.” I think he got scared! We live above the pub now, which is a bit different, but he’s on the end of all my recipe-developing. Lucky Liam! How’s it going at the pub?
Really well. We’ve been open three months now.
We’re still learning but the locals are brilliant. I make all the puddings, cakes and bar snacks like sausage rolls. People especially love my sticky toffee pudding, cornflake tart and apple and rhubarb crumble.
Are you pulling pints, too?
I’m doing a bit of everything! It was never about opening the pub and then going, “See you later.” I’ll be behind the bar, waitressing or helping in the kitchen. I’m also cleaning the toilets, sweeping and doing the bins out the back – I’m very hands on. Last week, I was scraping bird poo off deckchairs! That was delightful, but I just pull on the Marigolds and get stuck in.
You sound pretty busy. Are you and Liam thinking of starting a family?
Absolutely. We’d love to have kids and we have done since we met. But these things take time – and the pub is our baby at the moment.
You recently shot a cameo in new film
Love Sarah. What’s it about?
I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say! It’s a little British film, out next year. There’s a strong baking element to it, which is where I come in.
Intriguing! What was it like working with big names?
The whole experience blew my mind, I had to pinch myself. Seeing how it all works and filming with the likes of Celia
Imrie was incredible. I’m not going to win an Oscar any time soon, but you never know – it might be my next breakthrough! Do you want to carry on acting?
Definitely. I love a challenge. I actually think I’d slot into
Eastenders really well. Not only is my Cockney accent perfect, but Babs [Windsor] is one of my idols. I’m a landlady in real life now, too, so I’m more than qualified!
Who’d be your dream co-star?
That’s hard, but I love Jennifer Lawrence. I relate to her falling over [most famously at the 2013 Oscars] and not being afraid to look a bit silly. People like that, because we all have faults, whether it’s funny teeth or wobbly bits. But it’s fine, because all that perfection we see on Instagram doesn’t exist.
Speaking of social media, you were trolled over pics of you in your bikini on your hen do. That must have been upsetting…
It was and as much as people say ignore it, it is hurtful. But I wasn’t aware that photos were being taken. I was breathing out. I’d just had a burger and a milkshake, and anyway, I was on holiday having fun with my friends. I wasn’t worried about how I looked. Is body-shaming an issue that concerns you?
It really is. With my teacher’s head on, I think we’re setting a horrible precedent for future generations. People aren’t straight up, straight down – we have lumps, bumps and stretch marks, but we should be proud of our bodies. We’re telling young people to be blemish-free or stick-thin when we should be saying, “No, you’re fine as you are.”
On Bake Off you received negative comments about your bright lippy, too…
I know – but I’ve always worn it. I was ruining my mum’s lipsticks since before I can remember. If you want to wear lipstick, wear it. If you want to put it on your eyelids, so what? It’s nothing to do with anyone else.
Is being vocal about certain topics important to you?
Absolutely. I’m not just “Candice with the lipstick”. I have thoughts and feelings and really firm beliefs. Being able to use the opportunities I get as a platform is important to me. We need to work together to change attitudes.
Do you think that’s why people find you so relatable?
Well, I’ve never tried to be anything I’m not. Nothing about me is false. I pull faces and I’m a bit of a dick. It comes from being a teacher and encouraging students to be individual and never apologetic for who they are.
You’ve had your own issues with anxiety. Is that still something you struggle with?
It’s not something I’ve talked about much, but
I continue to work through it. I probably will have to do so for the rest of my life. You deal with it though and use your experiences to hopefully help others.
Do you still watch
Bake Off?
Of course. It’s exactly the same – it’s just got adverts now. I’m still in touch with everyone from my series, too. We’ve got a Whatsapp group and speak most days. We were so lucky to find each other and I count them as some of my best friends. They all came to our wedding – we had 11 incredible cakes!
Would you like to be a panellist on Loose Women again?
Oh yeah. I love talking, so being able to sit and chat with several other women is great. Hopefully, I’ll be asked back – I’ll take them some cake!
Do have any exciting plans for the rest of the year?
I’m taking part in The Big Feastival next month, a lovely, family oriented event. I’ll be doing my two favourite things – baking and chatting. Then I’m trekking the Himalayas in October for Coppafeel! with Nadia Sawalha, Olivia Buckland and Giovanna Fletcher. I need to spend the summer getting my thighs ready for the climb! Candice will be baking live at The Big Feastival in the Cotswolds, from 23 to 25 August. For tickets and more information, visit bigfeastival.com