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The Great British Bake Off contestant revealed what judge Paul Hollywood is really like off-camera and shared her thoughts on this year’s series

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A former Great British Bake Off contestant said Paul Hollywood displayed a different side to him away from the cameras, when she became upset during filming. Briony May Williams, who came fourth in the 2018 series, burst into tears during Cake Week when “every element” of her showstopper went wrong.

At the time, the chef branded her seven veils cake “a disaster” after she “overcooked” the mirror glaze, and was additionally left with uncooked pastry during her creation.

“I am usually pretty comfortable with making pastry, but something happened that day and it all went very wrong”, she revealed.

Although the blunder initially brought Briony to tears, she said they soon turned to laughter thanks to Paul’s off-camera response, reports Wales Online.

She revealed: “I never got a]Paul Hollywood] handshake. I did, however, get a Hollywood hug off-camera when I was really upset about my cake on Cake Week, my showstopper, because it was really bad.

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” I was upset, I was sat on my bench crying and I realised someone was stood behind me and I turned around and it was Paul.

“He gave me a really big hug and he said, ‘ It’s okay it’s only a f*****g cake’. And yeah, that just really made me laugh”.

Discussing further what Paul is really like away from the cameras, Briony said he typically maintains a professional distance from contestants.

“He kind of keeps his distance, which I think is fair because if he was all Mr Nicey Nicey off camera, I think you’d ruin that sort of relationship”, she revealed. “We need that kind of]scary persona]. I think that’s part of what makes the programme so good and so interesting.

” So yeah,]he’s] very pleasant, you know,]a] really nice man, but he would just kind of keep his distance a little bit more, which I thought was fair enough. “

This year, a fresh batch of bakers stepped into the iconic tent in the hope of being crowned the 2025 champion.

Last week saw Lesley become the seventh baker to depart after she struggled to impress the judges during the show’s first ever meringue-themed week.

Speaking on BBC Radio Kent about her time on the programme, Lesley said her standout moment was meeting Paul.

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Despite him not being impressed with her creation, she called him” a lovely guy”, adding:” He made the right choice, my meringue was terrible. “

Discussing her views on the current series, Briony went on to say:” I love this year. I think Jasmine’s doing brilliantly. I really like her and I really like Toby as well and he did so well this week.

“I watch it every year. I was a fan of it long before I was on it, so every year when it comes on I get really excited to watch it and you know things like meringue week, they’ve never done that before”.

Understanding precisely how the bakers feel, the former semi-finalist confessed she still experiences “heart palpitations when the music comes on”.

“I feel for them so much when their bakes are really critiqued and they’re getting upset”, she added.

“Because at the time you think, or when you’re watching it you think, ‘ Oh it’s only a cake, why are they getting so upset? ‘, but when you were in the tent it’s such a big deal that you just feel completely overwhelmed by it”.

Following insights from a body language expert on the couples of this year, a Strictly Come Dancing couple has been named as one of the “weakest” couples.

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The BBC hit competition recently made its grand return to our TV screens as fans were introduced to a set of fresh faces all taking to the dance floor for the first time.

This year’s star-studded cast includes the likes of Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, TV personality Vicky Pattison, Singer and 2024 RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist La Voix and Love Island star Amber Davies, who stepped in to replace Dani Dyer after she was forced to drop out of the contest after breaking her ankle.

Body language expert Darren Stanton, however, highlighted a potential failing partnership due to lack of connection.

Speaking to Betfair Casino, he expressed concerns about EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and her professional dance partner Julian Caillon, suggesting they could be voted off soon if they don’t build a better connection.

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They are in a good relationship, according to Darren, but they won’t go as far as many other couples. Since being in the bottom two, Balvinder has suffered a setback and doesn’t appear as confident, but they don’t appear as well-trained and prepared as others.

He continued, “Unfortunately, it will start to become more and more obvious – especially in comparison to the other couples if they don’t manage to build up this connection.”

Last weekend, the pair found themselves in the bottom two for the second time in a row, leaving them devastated.

They faced off against Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova at the time, with Ricky Martin performing their salsa to Maria once more for the judges’ approval.

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Following their second performances, judge Motsi Mabuse opted to save Balvinder, while head judge Shirley Ballas and fellow judge Anton Du Beke voted to save Chris, but Craig Revel Horwood was the judge with this week’s casting vote, and he decided to save Balvinder.

The pair has now passed Icons Week, which will be held this Saturday night (October 25), and has resumed training this week.

As they prepare for their next performance in the famous ballroom, Julian shared a video on Instagram which showed the pair doing a little dance routine to a remix of the Destiny’s Child track, Survivor.

“POV: surviving another dance off,” was written in a message next to the video. Bringing this energy into week 5! was also the post’s title. #teambalian #bbcstrictly #danceoff #survivor

Sarah Ferguson has been branded “manipulative and greedy with no moral boundaries” by a royal biographer during a heated discussion about Prince Andrew’s ongoing Virginia Giuffre scandal.

Prince Andrew has been in the headlines over the last week over sex abuse accusations made against him in the late Virginia Giuffre’s book, which he vehemently denies. However, royal biographer Andrew Lownie has opened up about his wife Sarah Ferguson and how this will affect her career.

When asked what’s next for her, Andrew said: “I think it’s rather sad because I like her, I’ve met her, she actually grew up with my wife. My mother-in-law and her mother were at school together.

“I actually had a meeting with her on the day that he settled with Giuffre to see if she would cooperate. Not because it would be authorised but to give her a fair shot at explaining herself,” he claimed.

“She decided not to do that. She told all her friends not to talk to me, she wrote letters to the publishers to say that they were watching them very carefully. I was told that my social media would be monitored and I even would go to interviews and find that they had been texted not to talk to me.”

He added that Fergie was a “very popular member” of the Royal Family and did “a lot of great work for charity” – but that there are “two Sarahs”.

“There’s another side to her that she’s hidden very well which is manipulative, greedy, dishonest with no moral boundaries. I’m afraid that stuff is beginning to come out and I think the way that she’s used charities to enhance her reputation, her social status and her business activities needed to be exposed.”

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Sarah Ferguson has been branded “manipulative and greedy with no moral boundaries” by a royal biographer during a heated discussion about Prince Andrew’s ongoing Virginia Giuffre scandal.

Prince Andrew has been in the headlines over the last week over sex abuse accusations made against him in the late Virginia Giuffre’s book, which he vehemently denies. However, royal biographer Andrew Lownie has opened up about his wife Sarah Ferguson and how this will affect her career.

When asked what’s next for her, Andrew said: “I think it’s rather sad because I like her, I’ve met her, she actually grew up with my wife. My mother-in-law and her mother were at school together.

” I actually had a meeting with her on the day that he settled with Giuffre to see if she would cooperate. Not because it would be authorised but to give her a fair shot at explaining herself, “he claimed.

” She decided not to do that. She told all her friends not to talk to me, she wrote letters to the publishers to say that they were watching them very carefully. I was told that my social media would be monitored and I even would go to interviews and find that they had been texted not to talk to me. “

He added that Fergie was a” very popular member “of the Royal Family and did” a lot of great work for charity “- but that there are” two Sarahs”.

” There’s another side to her that she’s hidden very well which is manipulative, greedy, dishonest with no moral boundaries. I’m afraid that stuff is beginning to come out and I think the way that she’s used charities to enhance her reputation, her social status and her business activities needed to be exposed. “

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During her recent celebrations for her 90th birthday, Dame Mary Berry was surprised when a message from Prince William arrived. She shared the thoughts that persisted in her mind.

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Former Great British Bake Off legend Dame Mary Berry confessed “I had to bite my lip” when Prince William made a surprise appearance at her 90th birthday celebrations.

Celebrities and royals gathered to celebrate Dame Mary’s milestone birthday, which is regarded as one of Britain’s culinary treasures.

The baking legend passed away in March of this year, and she was honored on The One Show. When the future king appeared on camera and congratulated her, she was unapologetically shocked.

Her Royal Highness Prince of Wales’s appearance on screen gave her a direct look into what was racing through her mind. You feel, “Oh my goodness gracious me!'” she said to Saga magazine, and I had to bite my lip. ‘

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“I was completely drained,” she said. I pondered, “I must unite myself.” “

The Prince of Wales is known for having a competitive streak, and Dame Mary compared him to Prince William saying, “I had taught him everything he knew about cooking,” to which she also gave a glimpse. well ! He’s competitive, and I’ve done a lot of things with him. Catherine is just as good. “

During Dame Mary’s special feature on the BBC programme, Prince William said: “Hi Mary, I want to wish you a very happy 90th birthday, you’re a true national treasure and we’ve loved working with you over the years.”

He continued, “Have a fantastic day today, I dread to think who is making your cake and the criticisms they might receive, but good luck and I hope it goes really well.” “

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The TV star’s rise to fame first came when she foresees a trip to France while in her 20s while studying at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris.

Her first significant TV role was on Afternoon Plus with Judith Chalmers when she was 40 years old in 1975.

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Since then, she has published a number of cookery books, many of which have become bestsellers. She also wrote her first memoir in 2013.

Despite numerous TV appearances over the years, she is undoubtedly most recognised for her role on the Great British Bake Off, where she served as a host alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood from 2010 until her departure in 2016.

The TV star’s husband was taken to the hospital after a recent fall caused him to have broken ribs.

Brooklyn Beckham has been urged to collaborate with another well-known artist after posting a tutorial video on how to make his own jam on social media.

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Brooklyn Beckham’s latest recipe video has drawn the attention of Brooklyn Beckham fans, who want him to collaborate with an unlikely face. After creating an online video series titled Cookin’ With Brooklyn, David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest child has recently launched his own sauce, Cloud 23.

The 26-year old recently took to TikTok to showcase his latest culinary effort strawberry jam, which he served on toast to his wife, Nicola Peltz. While the response to the video appeared to be divided in praise and ridicule, many people suggested Brooklyn collaborates with celebrity jam producer – Meghan Markle.

The Duchess of Sussex founded the Asever American food brand in 2024. Meghan sent 50 jars of strawberry jam to a select group of friends and prominent people who later shared information about the product on social media during the company’s soft launch that year.

As always currently sells a wide range of jams and marmalade online for around $12 [roughly £8.97] as well as a number of other delectables.

“Do a Meghan Markle cooking show”! In the comments section, one fan urged Brooklyn.

You should jam with Meghan Markle, a second individual said. He might as well have a relationship with Meghan Markle, added a third.

Brand Beckham is a jammer, according to a fourth TikTok user, who joked: “Meghan must watch her back.

Brooklyn and Michel Roux Jr. collaborated earlier this year in the Wigmore restaurant at the prestigious Langham Hotel in London.

Brooklyn reportedly has the backing of Nicola and her billionaire family to start his own burger business in the coming months.

The chef’s business reportedly owns the “Beck’s Buns” trademark, and it is said that he is now pushing to start the restaurant within the next six months after quietly revealing the burger bar’s branding in August.

Brooklyn has always wanted to do it, according to a source. He is optimistic about the future and has Nicola and her family, including her businessman father Nelson.

After a fight with the beer brand Beck’s, Brooklyn experimented with the use of his trademark. He has now come to terms with this obstacle, and his vision is getting closer to reality.

The insider told The Sun: “He has created Beck’s Buns and quietly launched it on social media last month. Brooklyn’s company Buster Hot Sauce Inc owns the trademark and he is planning to open a restaurant.

After Brooklyn made it clear that he wasn’t making alcohol for a restaurant, the trademark dispute is now all but resolved. Although the final selection will be burgers of his own, Buster hot sauces, the menu is still being considered.