Paul Hollywood claims Great British Bake Off hosts Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding ‘aren’t the REAL stars’ as tensions rise
PAUL HOLLYWOOD went on a social media charm offensive after I revealed that relations in the new Great British Bake Off tent had crumbled.
But any good work he did by publicly telling PRUE LEITH the week had been “the best yet” was half-baked — as Paul has now put his foot in it with his colleagues once again.
The show judge belittled the roles of new hosts SANDI TOKSVIG and NOEL FIELDING, insisting they are not the real stars of the show.
Paul said: “The presenters are on for about five minutes and the bakers are on there for 50 minutes, so they are the stars of the show.
“The characters on this year’s show are the strongest we have had and the standard is ten times higher.
“People get wrapped up in all this ‘host and judges’ thing too much. They forget that it’s all about the bakers.”
His comments come after I told last week how things had become strained on set, particularly between Paul and MARY BERRY’s replacement, Prue.
And it isn’t just the judges struggling to bond, with my story also revealing how Sandi spends her days in her trailer knitting while co-host Noel refuses to eat cakes for fear of getting fat.
Paul was the only member of the BBC line-up to move to Channel 4 when talks over a new series broke down last year, with hosts MEL GIEDROYC and SUE PERKINS opting to quit.
Earlier this year I told how Noel and car fanatic Paul initially failed to click — due to the funnyman’s inability to drive.
But now Paul says that despite missing outgoing Mel and Sue at first, he is finally coming round to a new way of thinking.
He added: “I had tears rolling down my face because of how funny Noel and Sandi are, so I wasn’t really that sad in the end.”
That’s Paul in Mel and Sue’s bad books too then . . .
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Anton hits a new note with album deal
HE missed out on the chance to go head to head with Strictly Come Dancing’s BRUNO TONIOLI on the show’s judging panel when bosses gave the top job to SHIRLEY BALLAS.
Now ANTON DU BEKE is preparing to do battle with Bruno in a whole new arena – the music charts.
The popular dancer was seen by many as the obvious choice to replace LEN GOODMAN as Strictly’s head judge.
But now Anton has signed a record deal with the Polydor and is set to release an album of covers of classic tracks in time for Christmas.
And he will be hoping to out-perform his pal Bruno, who last year released his own selection of romantic covers, called An Italian Romance.
A source said: “Anton loves his music and has a great voice.
“He’s not just a dancer – he’s an all-round entertainer.
“Being on Strictly will give him a great chance to promote his album this year.
“He hopes that it does really well in the charts – plus he wants to beat Bruno, naturally.”
Anton – who has appeared on the hit BBC1 show since it began in 2004 – will return to Strictly this year as a pro dancer.
He hoped to get the head judge job and felt he had been the victim of “positive discrimination” when Shirley landed the role instead.
Hopefully Anton can get over his heartache by belting out a couple of emotional ballads.
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Nicole's Greek chic
ALL that twerking is paying off for X Factor’s NICOLE SCHERZINGER.
She showed off washboard abs in Mykonos, where she is continuing the celebrations for her 39th birthday she began last week in London.
Now Nic is back on her favourite Greek island to get some sun and take a break from partying, while grabbing the odd selfie.
Nicole saw in her 37th there two years ago, when she was caught flashing her knickers, while twerking on the street – before being carried home by her then-love interest, footballer Pajtim Kasami.
That’s how to properly celebrate your birthday.
Soapbox
CHESNEY gets caught in the crossfire of Robert and Richard’s war when he turns up at the Bistro in CORONATION STREET.
A wired Rich demands that Robert launder his drugs money – and threatens to reveal his past to Michelle. Rich grabs a broken bottle and slashes Chesney as he walks in, before collapsing clutching his wound.
Over on EMMERDALE, a fearful Rhona tells Paddy and Vanessa she plans to drop the charges against Pierce after learning who was behind the recent break-ins.
Later, she visits Pierce – but his smug attitude makes her quickly change her mind.
— PITCH BATTLE, BBC1’s new singing contest with GARETH MALONE and KELIS as judges, got battered in the ratings war this weekend.
The third episode of the show, inspired by the Pitch Perfect films, saw viewing figures fall to just 1.63million on Saturday.
ITV’s The Voice Kids got as high as 4.1million.