Young baker hoping for a Hollywood role
LIKE all contestants, Michael Georgiou would love to emulate the culinary success of judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.
And it seems he has already made a head start, before Bake Off begins. The 20-year-old has wasted no time in capitalising on his appearance in the BBC1 contest, as his glossy website shows.
He set up the N14 Bakery site just after filming finished and invites orders for his products.
Like Hollywood, he specialises in bread and pastry.
Mr Georgiou is heavily influenced by his Cypriot heritage, giving him another connection with the 50year-old judge, who spent six years working in Cyprus.
While there is no hint of how the Durham University student fared in the show, the mouth-watering photos on social media make him an early favourite to progress.
He has demonstrated his wideranging skills with photos of a white sourdough, rye bread, a Nutella brioche loaf and walnut and Stilton soda bread.
His pastries are similarly impressive, with croissants, Danish pastries and Chelsea buns that would not look out of place in a posh patisserie.
Explaining his inspiration, the Londoner wrote on his website: ‘I have been influenced by the home baking of my mother and grandmother and this instilled in me a love and desire to bake.’
He added that he likes to create his own ‘spin’ of well known recipes, with examples including a Pimm’s Victoria sponge.
Mr Georgiou has hinted that he will be comfortable with the technical challenges set by Hollywood, as he has already tried out several unusual bakes.
His Instagram account highlights his ability to make galaktoboureko, a custard-based Greek dessert his grandmother taught him how to make, and spinach and cheesefilled spanakopita rolls.