The first Star Baker is named

16th May 2017

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off put four celebrities to the test as they went head to head in the famous tent to take home the title of Star Baker.

Comedian Jason Manford, Eastenders actress Maddy Hill, ex England goalkeeper, David James and businesswoman and wife of the Prime Minister, Samantha Cameron were the first bakers to put their skills to the test.

The initial task they were set by judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood was the Signature Challenge, where they were asked to make 24 canapes using rough puff pastry made from scratch.

“Most of the celebrities will have been to lots and lots of parties and been given canapes,” Paul said. “But I bet they have never made them.”

Jason almost fell at the first hurdle, as he struggled to put his apron on. “It’s actually quite hard to tie it behind your back,” he admitted.

Maddy thought her previous job may come in handy. “I used to be a canape waitress and my, did I eat a lot of canapes,” she said.

Presenter Mel Giedroyc hosted the episode and informed the celebrities that their Technical challenge would be the obscure French pastry confection, Paris Brest.

The contestants followed one of Mary’s recipes and she gave them some advice before they began: “Read the recipe three times and go through it in stages carefully.”

All of the bakers struggled as they try to make sense of the unfamiliar recipe, but poor Maddy added much more than a pinch of salt and was told by Paul “that tastes really bad.”

Jason was shocked to win the Technical challenge and was determined to do well the next day.

In the Showstopper round the contestants were set the challenge of creating a 3D cake in the shape of a sporting trophy.

David described the task as his “penalty shoot-out”, before making an American football helmet and Samantha, who went for a surfing-themed cake, admitted: “I hadn’t worked with fondant before last week, but now I am having to be quite adventurous.”

Mary and Paul had a tough decision to make between Maddy and Samantha when choosing the Star Baker, but it was Samantha who scooped the title.

Accepting the Sport Relief apron, Samantha said: “I am genuinely really pleased.”

She also told Mary: “My daughter is going to be very jealous.”

Each of the celebrities took part in the programme to help to raise money for Sport Relief, which helps people living incredibly tough lives both in the UK and in some of the world’s poorest communities.

During the episode viewers also watched Clare Balding in Kenya, where she met children living on the streets who desperately need help. She also visited a shelter that benefits from Sport Relief donations and helps get those children off the street.