CELEB BAKE OFF IS BACK
The Great Celebrity Bake Off is back, with a whole host of incredible celebrities taking part to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK
The famous faces taking part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer this year include singer Paloma Faith, actor Danny Dyer, presenter Greg James and dancer Oti Mabuse – the latter being someone whom Alison Hammond has made no secret of her love for.
Delighted to host Bake Off For SU2C the first time after joining the regular Bake Off team last year, Alison, 49, says, “I was really, really excited when Oti came into the tent, and now I know she was actually pregnant at the time. That was really exciting, having her there.
“She wanted to do well. Her sister Motsi did really well in the tent in 2022, so there was a lot of pressure on Oti to show that she had what it took. We had a little bit of dancing from her as well.”
Alison’s This Morning co-host and friend Dermot O’Leary is also one of the celebrity bakers who headed into the iconic tent this year and, although she was unable to play favourites, Alison admits that she was rooting for him to do well.
“I knew he’d take it seriously because he got [the baker] Juliet Sear to come to his house and give him some tips,” she jokes. “I knew he’d be serious. He’s not gonna do Bake Off and not take it seriously.
“Food is massive in his life. He had a fish restaurant at one point. Whenever he buys me a nice present which involves food, it’s always top quality. The best of the best.”
But despite Dermot, 50, being a great cook, Alison – who took part in the show in 2020 as a contestant – reveals she’s the more enthusiastic baker when it comes to the pair of them.
Alison explains, “He’s done a roast dinner for me with a salad and it was delicious, but he’s never brought in home-made cakes to This Morning. He will buy cakes, but I will bake. I will bring in a banana bread or brownies or something. He’ll just buy it!”
Bake Off For SU2C isn’t just a fun show to watch, it also raises awareness and much-needed funds for Cancer Research UK – a cause close to Alison’s heart after she lost her mum Maria to lung and liver cancer in 2020.
“Cancer touches everybody’s life in some way,” she shares. “We all know a friend or a family member whose life has been touched by cancer. While I was filming Bake Off, my niece was going through cancer. She literally lived in hospital for nine months going through a really aggressive chemo.”
