USING THEIR LOAVES
As The Great Celebrity Bake Off returns, a fresh batch of stars are making dough (and more) for charity
It’s that time again, as a new bunch of celebrity hopefuls put on their aprons and step into the famous tent for a new series of
The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer.
Over the years there’ve been many memorable moments during the competition, which raises funds for Channel 4’s charity Stand Up To Cancer.
Martin Kemp famously baked gingerbread versions of his band Spandau Ballet in 2018, then bit the head off Tony Hadley! And
Joe Sugg brought drama in 2020 when medics rushed to his aid after he cut his finger and fainted.
First in the tent are presenter Emma Willis, Taskmaster’s Alex Horne, The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison and DJ Clara Amfo. Emma admits she’s very nervous about showing off her pastry skills – or lack of them.
“I kind of dabble with my kids and make cupcakes,” says the presenter and mum-of-three.
“I can do a sponge, but that’s my limit. A big sponge, whack a bit of cream and jam in it, put some icing sugar on the top to make it look pretty, but that’s the extent of my baking skills.”
And she reveals that practising at home hasn’t exactly added to her confidence.
“The other day I tried to make something, and it absolutely just flopped and didn’t work,” she recalls.
“It was absolutely terrible. So I’m dreading having to do it, because it was a bloody disaster! Standing in that tent is really overwhelming. When you see it and walk into it, you realise how much you shouldn’t be there, because you’re not good enough. But once you get started, you sort of ease into it a little bit.”
We’ll have to tune in to see if Emma is in the mix for star baker, but talking ahead of the competition, The Voice UK host mused over what challenge would be the toughest.
“Bread, I think. Bread would be a shocker,” laughs Emma. “Meringue would be pretty tricky. Some kind of pastry. All the things that are notoriously difficult. I’ve never made pastry, I’ve just bought it!”