A snow cannon a model car kit and I'm happy

PAUL ho-ho-Hollywood points to his trim white whiskers and declares, "I am looking very Santa" as he prepares to bring Bake Off fans the gift of a Christmas special.

-  MARK JEFFERIES

• Just don't ask me to dance on TV, says PAUL HOLLYWOOD

This year, for the first time, it will be an all-soap star line-up of contestants.

Natalie Cassidy and Dean Gaffney of EastEnders, Chris Bisson and Sheree Murphy from Emmerdale and Corrie favourite Shobna Gulati will all battle it out to be star baker.

And Paloma Faith will belt out a Christmas classic in the one part of the show Paul, 58, really dislikes - because of the dad dancing. He says: "It's a cringe-fest for me. I have to stand there....

bopping around. Oh, God. I feel so cringey." And fellow judge Prue Leith and hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond know it.

Paul says: "I said to Prue on the way to the stage where Paloma was, 'God, I hate this. I really do not like this'.

"And she said, 'I know'. Of course, all the crew love the fact I don't like it and wind me up constantly. They say, 'Can we get a bit more movement, Paul?' I go, 'Oh, stop it. Stop it"."