If you loved Antony's Bollywood dancing and Turmeric and Caraway Goosnargh Cakes on Bake Off last night, check out this Q&A with the contestant himself.
Anyone who watched the first episode of The Great British Bake Off last night will recognise Antony as the one with the brilliant dance moves and the Kilimanjaro showstopper biscuit. Here's what he thinks about the Bake Off, and baking in general.
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Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4[/caption]
Q&A – Antony
Who encouraged you to fill out the application form to be on The Great British Bake Off?
Well fortunately this was a pleasant surprise from my partner, who filled up the form and I was only introduced to the process with my first telephone interview!
What age or time in your life did you start baking and who has inspired you?
As a little kid I was always in awe of my dad who made the best Christmas cakes and pizzas back home in India. He was and will always remain my inspiration.
What is your signature bake that the family or friends love or expect for a special occasion?
Fortunately I’ve been surrounded with foodies who are up for tasting all of my concoctions. My macaroons and cakes go down a treat at special occasions.
How did you find it in the Tent, walking in on that first morning?
Excitingly scary and very surreal, after years of watching the show walking into that tent felt like walking into an expensive palace loaded with life’s biggest challenges (all good though)!
Which Judge did you want to impress the most and did you find Sandi & Noel a boost to get you through?
I surely wanted to impress both Blue eyes and lovely Prue. Prue takes the cake on this one with her wealth of knowledge in the food industry is just so vast and diverse. So her taste buds were top priority.
You cannot survive the tent without Noel and Sandi. Sandi’s sense of calm and Noel’s witty comments keep you smiling, love them both.
How will you watch the first episode - who will you be with and will you have made a cake to eat with it?
The first show will be massive party with a drink or ten. I surely will try making my signature bake.
Sweet or savoury – what is your preference and why?
I think sweet with a savoury twist like a mango chilli jam or a saffron swiss meringue buttercream.
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Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4[/caption]
Favourite bake to make… and what would be your Desert Island Dish?
A lovely eclair with an interesting melt in the mouth filling topped with an exciting glace on the top i.e. a choux pastry filled with a rich chocolate hazelnut praline cream covered in exciting dark chocolate glace –just beautiful!
Did you imagine you would ever be on TV? Are you looking forward to - or fearing - seeing yourself on television?
Never in a million years did I think I would be on BRITAIN’s best television show. There are scared butterflies rumbling in my tummy as I think about transmission.
Q&A courtesy of Channel 4 Press Centre
