What did you miss?
Great British Bake Off fans were distracted as Paul Hollywood donned a kilt for a Scottish special.
The Channel 4 show aired a Hogmanay episode to see in the New Year. The show featured bakers from previous series of the baking show, who were tasked with whipping up a series of Scottish treats, and Hollywood and his fellow judge Prue Leith got into the spirit by swearing tartan.
Leith wore a red and blue tartan skirt with a red top for the festive episode. Hollywood went for a blue and green kilt with a tie and waistcoat, and even added a sporran. “It’s quite breezy!” he said as he met the bakers in the famous tent.
What, how and why?
The episode, which aired on Friday, 3 January saw the return of some Scottish alumni from previous seasons. Lea from series one, James from series three, Norman from series five and Peter, from the show’s 11th run, were among those back in the tent. Kevin from the 13th series and Nicky, who was a contestant last year, also returned.
As the show opened, hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding revealed it was Scottish-themed and Hollywood and Leith showed off their special outfits.
Hollywood previously shared on Instagram that he wore “my ancestors’ kilt” for the special New Year instalment. “It’s nice!” he told the bakers of his traditional get up.
Viewers loved it, with many commenting about Hollywood’s look on social media. One posted on X: “Great line-up and Paul Hollywood in a kilt, what more do you want? Happy New Year!”
“I always knew Paul had a good (tar)tan!!!” one fan joked on Instagram, as somebody else added an emoji of a monkey covering its eyes as they wrote: “Mr Hollywood.”
“Cute skirt Paul,” quipped someone else, as another gushed: “You look sexy PAUL…”
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Another viewer wrote on the platform: “The best Scottish baker > Mister Paul Hollywood!!!” “Love it,” remarked somebody else.
One joked on BlueSky: “If there are any remarks about what’s under Hollywood’s kilt I’m switching off.”
What else happened on Bake Off?
The bakers were tasked with creating Scottish foods, like a black bun for the Signature round and then shortbread snowflakes covered in royal icing for the Technical challenge.
In the Showstopper, they had to serve up a freestanding cranachan dessert.
Peter – who won Bake Off in 2020 at the age of 20 – dazzled the judges with his culinary creations once again, and ended up being crowned the winner of the New Year’s special.
“I am absolutely delighted, absolutely chuffed with it,” he said.