Icing on the CAKE

JO BRAND and TOM ALLEN on their spin-off show that gives Bake Off fans another bite of heaven

- REBECCA FLETCHER

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: AN EXTRA SLICE

THURSDAY, 8PM, C4 COOKERY

When Jo Brand and Tom Allen join TV Times for an exclusive interview, it’s clear how much they relish being at the heart of The Great British Bake Off ’s irreverent companion show.

‘I think our viewers are like me and Tom a bit useless at baking but happy to laugh at how hopeless we are,’ smiles Jo, 67, who has helmed An Extra Slice since its debut on BBC2 back in 2014 and followed it, three years later, to its current C4 home.

‘Yes,’ agrees Tom, 41, who joined the team in 2018. ‘If you take baking seriously, you watch Bake Off, and if you don’t, you watch us – it’s the perfect balance!’

This week’s portion sees the comedians, helped as always by a celebrity panel and a studio audience, dissect the delights of Bake Off ’s Pastry Week (airing on Tuesday 22 October, see pages 66-67), which includes a frangipane tart Signature challenge that leaves judge Dame Prue Leith drooling.

Here, Jo and Tom spill the baking beans on their spin-off show’s recipe for success…

We like to think of your show as Bake Off’s naughty little sibling – is that fair?!

JO We’re definitely the naughty little something! We’re in the tradition of aftershows where you see the debris of what really went on in the actual show – and we slightly rib it!

TOM We alleviate some of the tension of the tent and it’s so nice to have a bit of fun. Bake Off is so revered by people, it’s part of society. Sometimes I think it’s one of the few things that keeps everyone ticking over!

Why do you think An Extra Slice has proved so popular with audiences?