Paul Hollywood has to live with death threats on social media prompted by his decisions on ‘The Great British Bake Off’.
The TV judge often receives a backlash when he eliminates fan favourites from the Channel baking competition, some of which go too far.
During an appearance on ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’, Paul discussed the recent revelation from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ head judge Shirley Ballas that she gets online death threats sparked by her critiques of the dancers on the BBC One ballroom show.
Confirming the threats he’s had, Paul said: "I’ve had something similar so I understand."
Recalling a time when he felt threatened in real life when he saw a 6ft 6in man approach him in the street, he added: "I was looking at him and I thought, ‘I’m dead.’ So I just said, ‘All I do is judge fairy cakes.’ He said, ‘You’re alright you mate, do you want a pint?’ "
When he’s not being threatened for his baking appraisals, Paul admits he gets lots of people telling him why he was wrong to axed certain bakers from The Tent.
He added: "I get a lot of people offering me a lot of advice on who should have stayed and who should have gone. There are two senses that the people who watch don’t lock on to – we’ve got taste and smell. These things are critical when you’re baking … On camera you look at the colours and the pretty pictures and you go, ‘That must taste good,’ when it actually it tastes like rubber or it’s too salty or too sweet."
The 53-year-old celebrity chef decided to explain his decision to pass on favourite to win Steph Blackwell – who was robbed of the champion title after David Atherton was crowned the winner – following fans outrage at the competition.
Paul said: "Steph was doing really well but of course, it’s like the FA Cup. You’ve got to bring the right team and you’ve got to have the mind set to smash it out of the park on that day."
Paul Hollywood gets death threats over Bake Off
