"She’s embarrassing"— The Great British Bake Off's Paul Hollywood jokes about co-judge Prue Leith

Paul Hollywood, the renowned judge of The Great British Bake Off, is known for his sharp critiques, piercing blue eyes, and the much-coveted Hollywood handshake.

In a recent episode, however, Hollywood revealed a lighter, more playful side of himself. He poked fun at his co-judge, Prue Leith, in a moment that had the entire tent laughing.

After Prue made an innuendo about a contestant's beaver-shaped cake, Hollywood couldn't contain his laughter. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to leave for 10 minutes,” he joked, adding:

“She’s embarrassing. That’s what she is.”

Though his critiques can still be intimidating to contestants, he has gradually lightened his approach, making the atmosphere in the tent feel warmer and more jovial.

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The Great British Bake Off: Paul Hollywood's feedback on the contestants

In earlier seasons of The Great British Bake Off, Hollywood's feedback often came across as blunt and daunting. Contestants would brace themselves for his sharp critiques, especially when aiming for the elusive handshake — a symbol of true baking excellence.

However, Hollywood has noticeably softened, offering more praise and a greater number of handshakes in recent seasons. This shift has been noted by both fans and Hollywood himself, who admitted in an interview with Tudum-Netflix that as the show progresses, so does the quality of the bakes.

Reflecting on standout moments in the tent, Hollywood mentioned some memorable bakes, including Hermine’s salmon quiche from collection 8 and Ryan’s key lime pie from season 3.

“You look at it and go, ‘Oh, that’s just a boule… But to achieve that finish, the quality, and flavor… was very impressive,” he remarked.

Hollywood’s admiration for the evolving talent is evident, yet he remains impartial when it comes to picking favorite winners.

“Even if I did know, I would never ever say,” he said.

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The infamous "Bingate" and lessons learned

Hollywood's tough feedback has played a central role in many of The Great British Bake Off's most iconic moments, including the notorious “Bingate” incident in 2015. During this event, contestant Iain threw away his entire Baked Alaska after his ice cream was prematurely removed from the freezer.

Hollywood still remembers the moment vividly, noting that co-presenter Sue Perkins had to break the news to him. “I just shook my head and walked away,” he recalled. While many viewers thought Iain could have pointed fingers, Hollywood remained firm in his stance that the recipe itself was the issue. He said:

“It was never going to set in a million years.”

However, Hollywood pointed out that if Iain had presented his failed dessert instead of discarding it, the outcome might have been different. Hollywood explained:

“If he’d showed us his meringue with a bit of slop in it, we could have judged his meringue.”

Hollywood suggested that mistakes can be overcome if bakers have the resilience to keep going.

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The coveted Hollywood handshake

Contestants on The Great British Bake Off eagerly anticipate the iconic marker of success, the Hollywood handshake. While initially a rare occurrence, Hollywood has become more generous with this gesture in recent years.

Paul Hollywood - The Great British Bake Off (Image via Netflix)

Some fans have suggested that the handshake has lost some of its exclusivity due to its increased frequency. Hollywood acknowledged the shift but attributed it to the rising standard of the show. He explained:

“The standard has got better, and based on that alone, that’s why you’ll probably find more handshakes.”

He also noted that bakers have become more strategic in catering to their tastes, saying:

“They know I like key lime pie, they know I like donuts, they know I like crème [pâtissière].”

He admitted that contestants often create bakes they know will appeal to him. Despite this, Hollywood remains open to trying new flavors and experiences, even if they fall outside his personal preferences. He said:

“I have to sit above my judgment on the flavor and judge it for what it is.”

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The next episode of The Great British Bake Off will air on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.