Funny business
Is Noel Fielding married and does the Bake Off host have any children?
Noel has said he was angry at his fellow GBBO presenters for this compelling reason
NOEL Fielding is back on our screens with a whole host of fresh new contestants for series 15 of Bake Off.
The beloved GBBO presenter has been a familiar face on British television for nearly two decades.
Early life
Noel Fielding was born on May 21, 1973, in Westminster.
His parents were just 18 when he was born, and after they split he lived with his father and stepmum, Dianne.
He was also close to his grandmother, who helped raise him.
Noel said in an interview in 2013: "My dad was so young, you know when I was 10 he was only 28, 29, so, that's mind blowing.
“When I was 20 he was only in his late 30s, he was my age now, so I've sort of had some brilliant years out of my mum and dad, and also they were quite young and tolerant and easy going and up for doing stuff."
Tragically his birth mum, Yvonne Fagan, 30, died when Noel was just 17 in 1990.
Becoming an artist
Noel originally had plans to be an artist, and had no intention to get into TV and comedy.
He trained at Croydon Art College and had his first solo exhibition, Psychedelic Dreams Of The Jelly Fox in 2008.
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The comedian has held a number of different exhibitions since then, including The Jelly Fox, a video installation that was shown at the Saatchi Gallery in 2012.
He told : "I wanted to be a painter and went to art school.
GBBO thrown into chaos as Noel Fielding BREAKS the set after throwing a lemon in the tent-
"I just got sidetracked into comedy.
"It was a mistake… I’m trying to get out but I’m trapped!
Despite his success in the art world, Noel is most famous for his comedy and TV work.
Finding fame
Noel shot to fame after teaming up with Julian Barratt to create, write and star in surreal comedy The Mighty Boosh.
Just like in his stand-up routines, Noel played a whole host of different characters in show.
The comedy troupe began in the late 90s, with Noel's brother Michael also a member of the group.
Some of his humorous alter-egos were flamboyant zookeeper Vince Noir, a cockney hitch-hiker called The Hitcher, and hermaphroditic merman Old Gregg.
He kind of makes the silliest little moments, he makes having breakfast a real moment. We're getting to have porridge and it's funny, and it's fun. And we're wearing silly hats, and we're dancing
Lliana Bird on partner Noel Fielding
The series also featured a number of famous faces, including Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade.
It aired from 2003-2007 and scooped Shockwaves NME best TV Award three times.
Following the success of The Mighty Boosh, Noel took his series to radio.
Finding love
Also appearing in The Mighty Boosh was Lliana Bird.
She is a writer, actress, author and former radio presenter on Radio X.
Noel and Lliana have been dating since 2010.
She has starred in various theatre shows, and has appeared as a guest commentator on Sky News and BBC Breakfast.
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Lliana is also an author, publishing her first children's book, Baboo, in 2023.
She is also a political activist, and co-founder of Choose Love, an organisation that delivers aid to refugees around the world.
According o her Instagram bio she is also an advocate of a smartphone free childhood/
Fatherhood
In early March 2018, The Sun exclusively revealed Noel and Lliana were expecting their first child together.
They welcomed their newborn, Dali, in April 2018, who is named after Noel's favourite artist, the surrealist painter Salvador Dali.
The pair welcomed a second daughter, Iggy, in August 2020.
Opening up about their home life in an episode of Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Llliana described Noel as a "magical" father.
She said: "He kind of makes the silliest little moments, he makes having breakfast a real moment.
"I think I've just really leaned into that and just going like, 'This is amazing.
"We're getting to have porridge and it's funny, and it's fun. And we're wearing silly hats, and we're dancing. And that's okay'."
TV work
As well as working with Richard Ayoade in The Mighty Boosh, the pair both starred in The IT Crowd.
The popular comic is also known for his work on TV panel shows.
He is a permanent team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and has made appearances on QI, and The Big Fat Quiz of Everything.
He was also the series four winner of Taskmaster.
In 2024, Noel played Dick Turpin in Apple TV+ comedy series The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin.
Bake Off
when he began co-hosting The Great British Bake Off in 2017.
He presented firstly alongside Sandi Toksvig, then Matt Lucas.
Since 2023, he has fronted the competition with Alison Hammond.
It was announced that the comedian was returning for Bake Off in 2024 alongside Alison, Prue Leith, and Paul Hollywood.
Noel has admitted what makes him “absolutely livid” on the GBBO set - and it includes some of the other presenters.
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He revealed that he's just as passionate about the programme as ever, and he feels particularly “protective” over this year's bakers.
In a interview, he said: “There are some very special bakers in the tent this year.
"Somehow the standard keeps getting higher.
If Paul and Prue are hard on the bakers, I’m absolutely livid. It’s devastating when they leave
Noel Fielding on Bake Off contestants
“These unbelievable young bakers are way better than they should be for their age.
"It’s a vintage year. One of the best yet.”
He added: “I’m fascinated by the people. I feel protective of them.
“If Paul and Prue are hard on them, I’m absolutely livid. It’s devastating when they leave.
“This year I was particularly fond of one baker. When I had to send them home, I cried.”
Music lover
And as if that is not enough, Noel is also a huge lover of music.
It will come as no surprise to his fans that he has made appearances in a number of music videos.
He can be spotted in the videos for Kasabian's Vlad The Impaler and You're In Love With a Psycho, as well as Razorlight's In The Morning.
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