‘It feels like we've known each other for 30 YEARS!'

In just five years, Bake Off judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood have become firm friends and intensely protective of each other

- KATHERINE HASSELL

Dame Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood are discussing their secret talents. They’re back on the box to assess the culinary creations of a raft of famous faces in The Great Celebrity Bake Off. Olympian Sir Mo Farah, Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, singer Ellie Goulding, comedian Ruby Wax and former Corrie star Katherine Kelly are among those taking part in five charity specials. And, one of the bakers’ showstopper challenges is to create a choux sculpture embodying a hidden skill.

‘I love to repurpose stuff,’ says Prue, talking via video call from the study of the Cotswolds home she shares with husband, John. She adjusts her computer so we can see a fabulous chandelier that she has embellished with two of her favourite things. ‘It’s strung with antique teacups, which I collect, and necklaces,’ she says. ‘That would work well in choux.’

Paul, joining us from the kitchen table of his Kent home reveals, ‘I love making Lego models.’ He turns his laptop to reveal a four-and-a-half-footlong replica of Titanic on his sideboard. ‘It took five days to build that,’ grins the 56-yearold, who studied sculpture at Wallasey School of Art. ‘I love model-making. I concentrate and forget about everything. It’s good for the brain.’ He has also built a mini motorbike from 6,000 metal pieces over three months.