British Baking show finalist says Paul Hollywood | TV Shows

Nothing alerts the arrival of fall fairly like a recent season of The Great British Baking Show, arriving just in time to make viewers neglect about other cooking exhibits labeled as “toxic.,” even when they’ve high-profile stars like Martha Stewart.

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith have made their comeback for another model new season in the UK, alongside returning hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.

And while others like Mary Berry still seize the eye of longtime followers, others are curious about what the show’s expertise is like behind-the-scenes.

One earlier finalist has opened up about his Baking Show journey and shared exclusive behind-the-scenes insights about life inside that well-known tent.

In an exclusive chat with Express UK, Josh Smalley revealed how he secured his spot on the 2023 season and his trustworthy ideas about the judges.

“Prue was an absolute delight and reminded me so much of my Nan. She had such a calming presence when she spoke to you and always managed to find the positives in everything. Paul, meanwhile, wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d expected,” he admitted.

“He was genuinely friendly and smiled far more in person than you’d ever imagine from watching him on TV! It felt very special to be able to present your bake to the two of them, knowing they were not only genuinely interested but also excited to taste it. The famous blue-eyed stare was definitely there, though – I’ll admit I tried to avoid making direct eye contact whenever he came round to check on what I was doing.”

Discussing his acceptance as a competitor, Josh responded, “I was blown away to learn that the show receives up to 20,000 applications every year-it really put into perspective how incredible it was for all of us to make it to the final 12.

“What maybe helped my choice was also my love of selection. While some bakers could specialize in truffles, for instance, I get pleasure from making every thing from bread and biscuits to puddings and patisserie, so I feel that broad vary of abilities performed a half. I’ve also always cherished photographing and documenting my bakes, which I feel helped create a strong portfolio for the manufacturing group to take into account.”

Don’t miss:

Mary Berry shares the one kind of food she ‘positively avoids’ as she will get older [LATEST]

Great British Bake Off 2023-How you’ll be able to watch beloved baking show in US [INSIGHT]

Blake Lively sends fans into frenzy with unexpected Great British Bake Off video [UPDATE]

Josh shared a key takeaway from his experience.

“For me, one of the largest classes from Bake Off was studying how to handle time and let go of perfection. In the tent, you are continuously juggling a number of parts of a bake at once, all under intense time stress.

“The reality is that the final result will never be as flawless as something crafted over several days at home. As someone who has always strived for perfection, it was eye-opening to realize that perfection isn’t always possible, or even necessary.”

Josh Smalley might be talking at New Scientist Live, scheduled for October 19-20 at ExCeL, London. To e-book tickets, go to: New Scientist Live 2025 – Ticket sorts.

The Great British Baking Show drops new episodes on Netflix on Fridays.