Paul Hollywood has admitted to “struggling” being in the public eye in a rare glimpse of his life away from the cameras. The Wallasey cooking legend is set to return to our screens today (September 2) as The Great British Bake Off launches its 16th season on Channel 4.
The chef, who has judged showstoppers and crowned champions since Bake Off first aired in 2010, wasted no time in sharing his pride for the forthcoming season, calling it “exceptional” and “phenomenal”. He also claimed viewers will be in for a treat, saying: “It is a really good year.”
But away from the cameras, Paul is reluctant to share much about his private life. That was until a video surfaced of him acknowledging the trials and tribulations of being one of the UK’s household names.
In a YouTube interview with motoring expert Yianni Charalambous from 2023, Paul said he found it hard to get to grips with being famous. He said: “The fame side of things, I’ve struggled with.
“I live in the middle of nowhere. I’ve got very few neighbours and I tend to shy away from where there’s lots of people. I like nothing better than putting my dressing-gown on, kicking back on the sofa and putting a Netflix series on that that’s my thing.”
However, the chef was adamant that it was not all doom and gloom as he revealed he finds solace in his other love: motorcycles. His impressive collection includes a 1000cc Kawasaki, a bespoke Harley-Davidson and an exclusive carbon-fibre Ducati, reports Birmingham Live.
“I’ve got my motorbikes – which again gives me anonymity,” he added. “Put my helmet on, with its black visor and I’m away. I don’t crave the fame side of that. It’s just sort of a by-product of what I do.”
Despite this, Paul insisted that he remained approachable to his Bake Off supporters during public engagements. He said: “The fans of the show, I’m always there for them, help them, say ‘hello’, do photographs and all that sort of thing. People have got a lot of baking questions. And the age range [of my fans] is from five to 95, so it’s literally all inclusive.”
Paul’s rare insight into his private life came just weeks after police arrested a man suspected of assaulting his brother Lee while he was walking his dog on Links View Playing Fields in Leasowe. Before the arrest, the chef appealed for witnesses on his social media channels.
Paul is promising Bake Off fans that this year’s show will be one for the ages. He claimed the bakers this year are among the best he has ever come across.
“I think this is an exceptional year. I think the standard of the baking has been phenomenal,” he said. “I was really shocked – it was unbelievable. Proper borderline-professional from the off. And the bakers all bonded really quickly as well. Straight out of the traps, there were a number of bakers that made me think ‘Wow, we’re in for a good year’. And it is a really good year.”
When asked for his all-time favourite pie in Bake Off history, Paul was adamant there was only one winner. He said: “Key Lime Pie. Key Lime Pie is a favourite. It’s sharp, it’s citrus, it tastes beautiful. It’s a cross between a cheesecake and a custard. It’s got cream on it. For me, it’s the ultimate pie/tart. It’s just delicious, and every time we do it I get excited.”