Autumn FARE

PAUL HOLLYWOOD and DAME PRUE LEITH on why they're rooting for vegetables...

- REBECCA FLETCHER

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF TUESDAY, 8PM, C4 COOKERY

Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith are excited about stirring things up in the white tent as they introduce a brand-new theme to The Great British Bake Off.

‘It’s Autumn Week!’ enthuses Prue, 84. ‘It’s the first time we’ve ever done it and, I have to say, it’s very interesting and delicious. There’s a lot of pumpkin!’

‘Well, it’s Halloween, so that’s to be expected,’ smiles Paul, 58, as he joins his fellow judge for an exclusive chat with TV Times about the sixth episode’s seasonalinspired challenges, which comprise a sweet autumnal pie for the Signature, a vegan version of a northern classic for the Technical, and a vegetable celebration-cake Showstopper. ‘There are some amazing flavour combinations!’

Here, Paul and Prue tell us more…

What inspired this new theme?

PAUL The idea is to celebrate harvest time. There are so many vegetables that can be used inside a cake – beetroot, carrot, potatoes… Someone even uses corn!

PRUE We wanted the bakers to think, ‘What will adding vegetables to a bake do?’