Paul Hollywood says this year’s ‘Great British Bake Off’ contestants are more emotional.
The 53-year-old judge admitted he has upset the hopefuls – which is the youngest ever batch of wannabe bakers to appear on the Channel 4 show – and made them "cry" more than any other series.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: "There were times when there was a bit of a disaster on one of the technicals. I walked in and saw it and sort of had a go at them, which caused a little bit of emotion.
"Yes I made them cry. They’re more pack animals now. Upset one and they all get upset."
This year’s lineup has an average age of just 31, with the youngest contestant 20 years old.
Host Sandi Toksvig admitted the tears on set weren’t great, and the team felt bad for the youngsters.
She added: "Yeah, it wasn’t good. You know how when you’re at school and other pupils are in trouble, but even though it wasn’t you, you still feel s**t inside? We felt like that. We were like, ‘Oh God.’ "
Paul – who put the younger lineup down to viewers growing up watching the show in their teens – admitted the age of the contestants means his approach to his own role has changed.
He explained: "When they’re younger, they need to start somewhere and sometimes they don’t listen.
"A couple of them didn’t listen and I went over and taught the point again and again and again and again, and they still didn’t get it.
"The ones that did start to listen, to both Prue [Leith] and I… got better. There’s a couple of them that didn’t, that just fell away, because you need to listen.
"We always give constructive criticism. We want them to get better, we want them to enjoy it … because the ones that learn get better…"
Paul Hollywood saw more emotion from this year’s Great British Bake Off contestants
