Paul Hollywood hits back at Bake Off star's savage criticism over 'hypocrisy' of show

As The Great British Bake Off edged towards its 2025 final, it hadn’t just been bread and cakes rising in the tent, as the temperature off-screen has reached new heights, too.

A clash had sparked between two familiar names from the show’s history: judge Paul Hollywood and former finalist Ruby Tandoh.

Tandoh, who appeared on the 2013 series, recently penned a long, reflective essay for The New Yorker, looking back on the show that catapulted her into Britain’s baking consciousness. In it, she essentially did not hold back.

The baker lifted the lid on what she called ‘the essential hypocrisy of Bake Off’, accusing the hit competition of pretending to be all tea and jam when, really, it’s a fierce contest.

Ruby Tandoh has triggered a debate over Bake Off’s true competitive nature (BBC)

She wrote: “No show does so much to hide its true nature: namely, that it is a competition people desperately want to win. This is the essential hypocrisy of Bake Off, and it remains the most British thing about it.”

Tandoh went on to recall moments from her time in the tent, describing the producers’ relentless push for emotion and the behind-the-scenes pressure that doesn’t always make it to air. Her essay paints a picture that’s more butter knife than piping bag, polished on the outside but cutting underneath.

Reflecting on her own journey, she even admitted that, while she claimed to have just ‘really, really loved baking,’ a fellow contestant reminded her she’d ‘been talking about writing a cookbook since the moment we entered the tent.’

Paul Hollywood has defended the show after Tandoh’s fiery ‘hypocrisy’ claims (Channel 4)

And now, Paul Hollywood has given his response.

The long-time Bake Off judge addressed the comments during an appearance on The Sporkful podcast with host Dan Pashman. When asked about Tandoh’s remarks, Hollywood confirmed he’d seen her article before laughing off the accusation.

Hollywood said: “Yeah, Bake Off is what it is. It’s a very gentle, it’s a very nice programme, but it’s a competition.

“It’s a competition, and if you want to win, you have to do well.”

Hollywood laughed off the accusations (Instagram/@paul.hollywood)

He added: “You can be nice and do well, or you can be horrible and do well because I don’t care what personality you are. What I care about is what’s on the plate, and so there lies the competition, it’s not the people, it’s actually the bake itself that’s important to me.”

Host Pashman also offered his take, suggesting Tandoh’s critique was ‘something very British,’ noting a cultural discomfort around ambition.

Hollywood agreed: “Hmm... I think, yeah, I think Americans celebrate success more than Brits do.”