Dorset’s star baker to feature in special episode of the Great British Bake Off
Maggie and Prue on Great British Bake Off (Image: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions)
DORSET’S star baker has returned to the famous Great British Bake Off tent.
Maggie Richardson is taking part in a special episode of the Great British Bake Off airing on New Year’s Day.
The Christchurch[1] resident featured in series 12 of the hit Channel 4 television show which aired in 2021.
She was one of 10 ex-contestants who received the call up for the festive specials.
Maggie said: “When you’ve been on the Bake Off, you always have it in the back of your mind that they might invite you back on.
“When the message came through, I said ‘yes, yes, yes, yes’. I couldn’t wait to be back.
“For me, the best part of the Bake Off is not being on the television, its being part of the production. It’s tremendously fun. It’s the lights, camera, action of it. And the people are so lovely.”
Bournemouth Echo: Maggie Richardson
Maggie Richardson (Image: NQ)
The festive specials saw the ex-contestants come together for filming in April – also giving new presenter Alison Hammond a chance to practice ahead of the real thing.
Maggie said: “The atmosphere for the Christmas special was such fun.
“It was April, but it was really was incredibly cold. We didn’t have to pretend we were cold for Christmas.
“In the New Year’s one there’s only four of us. There were bakers I hadn’t met before, but I felt like I knew them. You feel like you know everyone that’s been on the Bake Off.
“It was a tremendous experience.”
Despite filming back in April, Maggie said she was only able to announce her involvement to family and friends within the last week.
She said: “People that I saw earlier in the week said ‘you didn’t tell us’. I told them I wasn’t allowed!”
Maggie added that viewers of the festive special should “expect the normal dramas but an awful lot of fun”.
The Great New Year’s Bake Off will air on January 1 at 7.40pm.
As well as Maggie, the special will feature Mark from series 11, Maxy from Series 13, and Jürgen from Series 12.
References
- ^ Christchurch (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)