![Paul Hollywood And Prue Leith Brings Everyone’s Favorite Baking Show’Back To America [Interview]](https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/01201012/PaulPrueBritishBakingShow.jpg "Paul Hollywood And Prue Leith Brings Everyone’s Favorite Baking Show’Back To America [Interview]")
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Often, regardless of how busy you’re, there are interview alternatives you simply can’t flip down. Beyonce? Name the time and the place. Angelina Jolie? Standing by. RuPaul Charles? Always. So, even throughout this busy awards season when somebody presents you “Great British Bake-Off” (or “Great British Baking Show” as its identified within the U.S.) judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith you completely discover a approach to make it occur.
The duo reunited of their off season to speak about their new “The Great American Baking Show Holiday Special” which is now obtainable on The Roku Channel. There had been quite a lot of season of “The Great American Baking Show,” on ABC, however the final season was in 2019. Next spring, a brand new model of the sequence hosted by Ellie Kemper and “Severance” star Zach Cherry might be launched on Roku (Kemper and Cherry are a breath of contemporary air in comparison with present “British” hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding). The new one-shot particular options U.S. celebrities competing for his or her favourite charities together with Chloe Fineman, Nat Faxon, Marshawn Lynch, D’Arcy Carden, Joel Kim Booster, and Liza Koshy.
Paul and Prue spoke for 20 minutes with The Playlist, however we might have actually chatted with them for one more hour or extra. We didn’t even get to ask them about the notorious Mexican week from season 13 this previous summer time!
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The Playlist: I do know an “American” model of theshow hasn’t been on the air for a few years, however the “British” one is offered on Netflix and folks watch it right here religiously. Are you conscious of how many individuals watch it right here within the States?
Paul Hollywood: No, to be sincere. I do know it’s fashionable. I used to be over within the States in July selling a e-book. So, I used to be in New York for per week. And it was bizarre as a result of I used to be strolling by way of New York, and I used to be going from a factor. I used to be leaving a studio and strolling someplace. And then a great deal of individuals had been stopping me and saying, “Oh my God, the ‘Great British Baking Show.’” I used to be like, “What?” It was very odd being acknowledged within the huge cities in America. Very odd.
Prue Leith: It’s very attention-grabbing. Because while you suppose what number of hundreds of thousands of individuals there are in America, you suppose a tv present would get misplaced. You wouldn’t have many followers. I’ve been stopped. I’m within the States in the meanwhile. I’m in New York, and I’ve been right here for 2 months. Even in the midst of Texas, in a one-horse city, I’d be stopped. I’ve been stopped extra in America than I ever am in England. It’s an enormous success right here.
The Playlist: Well, Prue, because you’ve been right here over the previous two months, meaning you had been right here when the final season ended, the place the final episodes got here out.
Prue Leith: Absolutely. I used to be.
The Playlist: Have you been approached by individuals questioning your selections in any respect?
Prue Leith: Just a few, a number of. But most of them agreed with us. There had been some large Abdul followers, however persons are very beneficiant about “Bake Off.” I feel the viewers is very similar to the individuals within the present. Nobody is out to humiliate or upset anyone. It’s very pleasant, and the followers are pleasant too. When I used to be doing “The Great British Menu,” which was a special present altogether, I used to get stopped rather more with individuals saying, “I don’t agree with you. That cake was absolutely fantastic.” And I bear in mind as soon as within the grocery store, I mentioned, “But how do you know it tasted terrific?” And they mentioned, “Well, I could see it was delicious And you didn’t rate it. You said it had too much lemon in it. I didn’t. It was wonderful.” Well, you possibly can’t argue with anyone who’s satisfied the cake they noticed on tele was good.
Paul Hollywood: Oh, I’d. [Laughs.]
The Playlist: Before I rapidly get to the vacation model of the present, you additionally simply shoot a season with newbie American bakers. And, Paul, you’ve clearly performed quite a lot of seasons of those earlier than. And is there inherently one thing completely different by way of simply the expertise, or perhaps tendencies, of the American contestants versus the UK ones, by way of how they bake or the alternatives they make?
Paul Hollywood: I feel two issues, actually. One, they do are typically somewhat bit sweeter than the UK brothers and sisters. And I additionally suppose definitely having seeing 5 – 6 of the American ones, they’re getting a lot better. The American bakers now, are excellent. Certainly equate to the UK kinfolk. So I feel there’s room for a global bake off.
The Playlist: Have there been conversations about inviting European contestants?
Paul Hollywood: I feel in the meanwhile there’s 17 or 19 styles of “Bake Off” all around the globe. There’s one in Peru, Brazil, Italy, Israel, Denmark, Belgium, Australia. They’re actually everywhere in the world. And I used to be approached to do a few them previously, and I simply mentioned, “I can’t spend my life traveling around doing Bake Offs. I don’t even speak the language.” But I’ve caught up with a few them just lately, that the usual is getting higher as a result of the extra program goes out, the extra it appeals to the first rate bakers that wish to problem themselves. I do suppose that the American bakers have performed a incredible job.
Prue Leith: I feel your query about is there a distinction between the American and the Brit, what has shocked me is there hasn’t been a distinction in perspective. The American bakers have been simply as cooperative, simply as useful to one another, simply as they weren’t making an attempt to undermine one another or something. They behave precisely in the identical spirit of “Bake Off” within the “American Baking Show” as within the different one. But what I do suppose is completely different is that Americans usually have extra tolerance for very candy issues. They like sugar, extra tolerance for sugar than, I feel, the Brits do. And I feel we like sugar loads, however they prefer it actually loads. And the opposite taste I feel you’ve got extra in America than you do within the U.Okay. is cinnamon. Cinnamon turns up loads in American, even in granola for breakfast. There’ll be numerous cinnamon. And the American tolerance for chili. I feel it’s most likely the Mexican affect since you share a border with Mexico. I discover that typically American meals is a bit too spicy for me. I prefer it spicy, however not that spicy. But I feel there are somewhat little bit of taste variations. But as Paul typically says, the American tastes and methods of strategies of baking are European as a result of that’s the place they got here from. The exception maybe a flatbread, which got here from most likely from America…
Paul Hollywood: Well, that got here from the South America up, the bread facet of issues. But the truffles and all of the pastries got here from Europe over, and it’s been modified over time. It’s been tweaked and adjusted and Americanized, but it surely’s nonetheless excellent. But you possibly can supply. I like seeing recipes that somebody’s had within the household for a very long time. And then I can have a look at a recipe and go, “I know that recipe.” And a few of them return to a village in Wales, like a Bara Brith, a heavy fruit bread. Or a Dundee cake from Scotland, or croissant or a Danish pastry. And you see them, and I can say, “Can I see your recipe?” And I can see the similarities and also you go, “Where’s your family from?” And then you definitely begin, “Oh, we’re from Scotland.” “Yeah, I can see that.” It’s actually odd. We’re a small world, really. We’re not as huge as you suppose.
The Playlist: In a means that results in my subsequent query, and we could also be another season of both of you with the ability to present a solution to this, however in the course of the pandemic, so many individuals had been caught at dwelling. And they had been baking and cooking for the primary time. Have you seen these new bakers but on the present? People who just lately simply bought into it due to what the world went by way of?
Paul Hollywood: Absolutely. They bought into it by way of COVID, by way of lockdown. And they began baking, bought into it, and actually liked it and needed to do the baking present and get on there.
[Paul’s zoom screen freezes and he departs the conversation for a few minutes]
Prue Leith: One of the attention-grabbing issues in Britain, and I’m positive it’ll be the identical in America, is that we’ve had an absolute little explosion of recent bakery companies, artisan bakeries popping up everywhere in the nation because of “Bake Off.” Because individuals bought obsessive about making sourdough bread or cinnamon buns or one thing or different. And they’ve began to promote them, and it was a bakery. I do know a cameraman who’s given up filming, and he’s now operating a bakery. And actually, I do know two individuals who’ve performed that. So I feel COVID has given an enormous increase to…
Paul Hollywood: Sorry. I dropped on the market someplace. I feel my wifi went down.
Prue Leith: It did. It’s all proper. We had a stunning image of you utterly frozen.
The Playlist: Don’t fear. It’s a print interview. No one will ever see it. But, Prue, you had been simply speaking about how there’s been an explosion of bakeries and artisanal companies within the UK after COVID. And, Paul, you had been in the midst of speaking about the way you had seen an explosion in contestants. And I suppose simply to wrap this a part of the dialog up, is do you suppose this has result in extra proficient baking contestants? Or does the ability ranges appear constant?
Paul Hollywood: I feel it’s right down to the truth that COVID inspired individuals to attempt to one thing completely different, and so they understand they’ve a expertise. And I feel from then on in, they actually bought into it, and it grew to become this actual ardour mission for them. And then to see them, in a way, due to it’s incredible. And new bakers typically have completely different concepts and completely different strategies as a result of they’re model new. And so though they might suppose it’s the proper methodology, it’s not. But they’ll find yourself with one thing that’s wonderful. You go, “How in the hell did you do that?”
Prue Leith: Quite typically they study stuff on YouTube from one another. Baking turns into a very sharing occupation. But I feel, actually, Paul, I feel you mentioned this a short while in the past. You mentioned that you just thought that the usual of each the British and the American bakers had improved terrifically due to the truth that individuals have had extra time to observe.
Paul Hollywood: Yeah, completely. Weirdly throughout COVID, I noticed banana bread trending. I’m going, “What? How does banana bread trend?” When you’re seeing issues like that, you’re considering baking’s bought everyone. And I feel it’s very a lot a consolation factor. Now, in case you are at dwelling, you’ve bought some ranked bananas simply on the flip, and you place that inside a cake and also you make a stupendous banana cake with walnuts in, or simply plain, and also you odor that when it’s baking. And when it comes out the oven and you’re taking a slice and have it with a cup of tea, it’s only a factor. It’s a consolation factor. It’s the blanket. It’s the consolation. It retains you protected. And I feel if baking has one thing like that which helped individuals throughout COVID, it’s performed its job.
Prue Leith: Well, it’ll be very attention-grabbing to see, now that we’re all again to emphasize and possibly extra stress than earlier than COVID as a result of we’ve bought water and financial collapse and all different issues to deal with, do you suppose that within the subsequent two years our bakers are going to worsen?
Paul Hollywood: They must bake to get higher.
The Playlist: I feel that’s one motive why many individuals within the of us are enthusiastic about new U.S. seasons is as a result of watching the unique model on Netflix has been an escape from what’s taking place on the planet. Is that the sensation you get while you meet individuals around the globe? Is the present their consolation meals?
Paul Hollywood: Yeah.
Prue Leith: People inform us on a regular basis. They’ll inform us, “During COVID, ‘Bake Off’ saved me. It was my moment when I could stop worrying about trying to teach the children, or cope with the fact that my husband was at home all the time.” Or no matter it was that was bugging them. For that hour, the entire household was shut up and watch the “Bake Off,” and in a spirit of pleasant love, actually. Yeah.
Paul Hollywood: And I’ve met lots of people who, weirdly, I used to be within the bathroom, and I used to be in a restaurant within the Alps, French Alps, and I went to the toilet. And once I was within the bathroom, the individuals got here in, after which he went, “It is. It’s the guy from… It’s Paul Hollywood!” But in fairly a robust accent. And I flip round and mentioned “Hello.” And they went, “We’re from Brazil. We’re massive fans. You helped us.” One of their relations had died, and so they discovered “Bake Off.” And discovered it actually comforting and a terrific half, and so they actually bought into baking. And by way of baking, they bought over this bereavement within the household. And I used to be like, “Oh wow. It really…” But one, I used to be in the midst of nowhere within the bathroom, and I believed that is actually odd. And the Brazilians liked “The Great British Bake Off,” and I simply thought it was loopy the best way that it hits individuals in numerous methods.
Prue Leith: I used to be on the races, and this occurred two or thrice to me. You go to a restroom. You’re within the restroom, and immediately anyone acknowledges you. And all of them wish to take selfies, and I can’t have a selfie of me taken with the background that claims, “Ladies lavatory.” Or, “Please wash your hands.” It occurs on a regular basis, however I’ve bought very agency about it. I say, “Please could you go outside, and we’ll do it in the corridor outside.”
The Playlist: When selections are being made in regards to the challenges is the very fact they might be baked in a scorching tent taken into consideration? That it’d have an effect on the result? Or is it simply, “Everyone’s in the same bubble. May the best contestant win”?
Paul Hollywood: It’s attention-grabbing. That got here up in a dialog after we had been selecting the challenges, and so they mentioned, “What week is this?” And he went, “Oh, it’s going to be week six.”
“Hang on. They’re using chocolate. That’ll take us into that month…” “Well, that could be quite hot.”
So yeah, we’ve checked out that previously, however they do have fridges to make use of. We haven’t bought air con within the tents, however they do have fridges they will use. And typically they are going to alter it round and knock issues round, so the sooner the higher to get the stuff they will soften in a short time, get that out the best way earlier relatively than later.
Prue Leith: The truth is that typically it’s completely boiling in that tent, and all the things melts.
Paul Hollywood: Then it’s freezing.
Prue Leith: And then completely freezing. And you’re having to carry scorching water bottles beneath our gamers to attempt to keep heat. And individuals typically say to me, “Why else do you do it in a tent? You must know that the whole problem with a tent is it gets too hot, and it gets too cold.” But that’s the purpose. It’s a village tent. The complete factor began as the sensation of a village fete. The pageant. We would by no means change that. And it lends to the thrill and the problem of a factor.
The Playlist: For every particular person season, there’s quite a few challenges, quite a few dishes they should make. I don’t understand how concerned you each are by way of that, however they need to ask your opinion on what they’re going to be doing. How many weeks are you beginning beforehand going over emails and conferences about what issues ought to be?
Paul Hollywood: They’ve already began now for subsequent yr.
The Playlist: And it’s December.
Paul Hollywood: Sometimes I’ll see one thing and go, “Now, that will make a great technical challenge.” And then I’ll e-mail one thing off to the gang. But they’re having conferences, first conferences, about now simply getting some broad concepts down. So by the point January, February, March comes, February we begin getting extra intense. And then they undergo numerous the standards. They have a look at Prue’s books. They have a look at my books. And then they’ll put 10, 20, 30, and that’ll go on a chart, which might be despatched to us. And then we take a look by way of. And then we’ll say sure to that one, no to that one. And then it begins to come back to one thing. But they should get the recipes, the concepts, the challenges out to the bakers as early as doable. So by the point we come to filming, there are many time to observe.
Prue Leith: Don’t overlook. There’s months and months of selecting the bakers. There’s an enormous means of the bakers making use of on-line after which sifting the perfect purposes, after which regularly discovering out in the event that they actually learn about baking and speaking to them. And then lastly, they ship of their bakes, and so they get to an audition. It takes months and months to decide on the bakers, and it takes months and months to get the challenges proper.
Paul Hollywood: Yeah.
Prue Leith: Paul and I are concerned and checking in. We don’t really do any of that work as a result of it’s most likely bought a staff of fifty individuals doing it.
Paul Hollywood: Yeah.
The Playlist: Let’s speak about this Holiday particular for the brand new “American Baking Show.” I do know you each labored with celebrities many occasions on “Bake-Off” earlier than. Do you’re feeling like it’s important to be extra leniant while you choose them on a particular like this? Do you’re feeling such as you’re holding your hand behind your again?
Paul Hollywood: Yeah, personally, I’ll choose them the identical. But I’ll assist them out. If I see one thing going incorrect, I’ll step in and assist them. I’ve performed that earlier than, and I’ll stick with it doing that as a result of these guys didn’t signal as much as be bakers. They’re actors. They’re comedians. They’re no matter. So, I feel it’s merciless. I feel if I can see one thing clearly going to go incorrect, they usually have a look at me with the pet eyes, after which I’ll go over and assist them.
Prue Leith: No, me too. I feel we do assist them a bit as a result of, clearly, the present might grind a halt if anyone completely doesn’t know what they’re doing. So, we will help them, however, which we by no means, ever would assist anyone on the primary present as a result of they’re anticipated to know what they’re doing. And I feel I’d say our requirements should not fairly so excessive for the celebs as a result of they’re not going to have any icing expertise, though typically they shock us. Either as a result of they’ve had some observe. Or as a result of they’re artists, and so they know how one can deal with paint or clay or one thing. And it seems they will deal with marzipan or icing.
“The Great American Baking Show’s Holiday Special” is now obtainable on Roku. You can watch it right here.
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