‘The truth REALLY hurts'

Pastry masters Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden on being TV’s most formidable judges

- CAREN CLARK

BAKE OFF: THE PROFESSIONALS

NEW TUESDAY / C4 / 8PM / EP 1 of 10 / COOKERY

Forget Simon Cowell and Lord Sugar – fans of C4 spin-off Bake Off: The Professionals know that tough-talking patissiers Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden are TV’s most formidable judges!

The relentlessly tense competition, hosted by comedian Tom Allen and The Great British Bake Off 2017 favourite Liam Charles, returns for a fifth series this week, with Benoit and Cherish ready to scrutinise the spectacular creations of 12 pairs of professional pastry chefs.

Thankfully, though, when a nervous TV Times catches up with Benoit and Cherish on the phone, they can’t be more warm and friendly as they tell us why this fresh batch of contestants are some of the best yet…

You’re pretty hard to please, but have the teams impressed you this year?

CHERISH: Yes, I think they raised the bar. We have a mixture of competitors from different establishments, ranging from those with their own patisserie to those working in a five-star hotel. I was blown away by some of the new techniques they brought in. Benoit and myself have really enjoyed seeing what’s happened.

Have any of the teams’ flavour choices surprised you?