The Great British Bake Off Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Fans tuning into the Great British Bake Off’ s Celebrity special were left in stitches on Sunday night, as Gemma Collins couldn’t stop herself from flirting with judge Paul Hollywood. The TOWIE favourite was taking part in the star studded edition of the popular Channel 4 baking show in order to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer, but it wasn’t just her bakes she was hoping to win over Paul with - it was her smooth one liners too.

This Morning favourite Alison Hammond is reported to have handed over several thousand pounds to a blackmailer that she once believed was her friend. The ITV star - who previously found fame on reality series - Big Brother claims that a blackmailer had vowed to "end her career" by planning to run fake stories on her.The unidentified man allegedly threatened to "ruin" Birmingham-born presenter Alison, 48, after she’d already purchased a BMW car worth an estimated £5000 for him.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C has released a first look clip of this Sunday's episode where Gemma Collins aims to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.The TOWIE legend, 42, is joined by stars such as AJ Odudu in the tent and while her fellow co-stars worry about their bakes, Gemma is confident. In a hilarious first look clip, it sees AJ, 35, nervous about her creation as she turns to tea to help her get through the stressful period.

The Great British Bake Off kicked off with a bang on Sunday night, as the popular Channel 4 baking show returned with a brand new celebrity series in order to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer. In the first round of the charity edition, Friends superstar David Schwimmer took on Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, comedian Rose Matafeo and actor Tom Davis as they were tasked with baking six savoury pies, six delicious macarons, and a 3D meringue of a Celebrity fail scene.

The Great British Bake Off finally returns to our screens on Sunday, with a whole host of amateur bakers keen to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. However, unlike the usual contestants, the new series of GBBO is actually a celebrity special, and will once again be hoping to raise money for the Stand Up To Cancer appeal.

The Great British Bake Off returned in style on Sunday, as the first episode in a series of celebrity Stand Up To Cancer specials got underway and put four of our favourite stars against each other in the hope of earning the approval of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. However, mere moments into the show, host Matt Lucas informed fans at home that for this debut edition, sadly his co-host Noel Fielding was not able to join them for the episode, joking it was due to him being a "vampire". While The Great British Bake Off's official Twitter poked fun at Noel's, 49, absence too as they joked about celebrity contestant David Schwimmer, who is best known for his role in US sitcom Friends, being his "replacement".

The Great British Bake Off has officially announced Alison Hammond as Matt Lucas 's replacement with fans labelling Alison as the “perfect choice: for the popular Channel 4 programme. Sharing the news on social media, the baking competition's official Instagram page announced that they had "baking news".

The Great British Bake Off has officially announced Alison Hammond as Matt Lucas's replacement and fans are over the moon. Sharing the news on social media, the baking competition's official Instagram page quipped that they had "baking news".

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond is reportedly set to join The Great British Bake Off when the Channel 4 series begins filming later this year. Alison, 48, will reportedly be replacing Matt Lucas as co-host, after the comedian announced his departure at the end of last year, telling fans that it had become clear he couldn't balance both GBBO and other commitments. Matt's fellow co-host Noel Fielding will be remaining on the show, with Alison set to present alongside him.

The Great British Bake Off charity special for Stand up to Cancer will be back on screens in March, with a whole new host of celebrity guests. Among them will be Loose Women star Judi Love who has admitted to "melting in Paul Hollywood’s eyes" while filming this year’s show. "I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be appearing in the upcoming series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up 2 Cancer," Judi confirmed in her OK! column this week.

Often, no matter how busy you are, there are interview opportunities you just cannot turn down. Beyonce? Name the time and the place.

The Great British Bake Off fans waved goodbye to Dawn on Tuesday after her spine-tingling bakes failed to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during the show’s first ever Halloween week. As part of the spooky themed challenge week, the contestants had first been tasked with creating an exquisitely decorated apple cake which saw Maxi and Syabira reign supreme with their delicious bakes – with both bakers earning a coveted handshake from Paul.

The Great British Bake Off viewers were left baffled on Tuesday's episode as Paul Hollywood likened contestant Dawn to his mum. During the latest episode, which was Dessert Week, Paul, 56, said to Dawn, 60: "Morning mum, erm, Dawn!" to which the baker replied: "Oh yes, thank you!" The judge continued: "You do remind me a little bit of my mum..." as Dawn pointed out: "I'm not that much older than you!" Explaining his comments, Paul added: "No, I know, but I'm just saying you remind me a little bit of my mum..." However, viewers were left baffled over the scenes as they pointed out the age gap between Paul and Dawn is only four years as the judge is 56 and the contestant is 60.

The Great British Bake Off fans were left in tears on Tuesday as Carole was eliminated from the hit Channel 4 baking show and tent. During the latest instalment, which was Dessert Week, Carole failed to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, especially after her steamed puddings collapsed.

With the Great British Bake Off 2022 now officially well and truly in full swing, week after week viewers at home have been treated to a visual feast as the bakers try their hand at cakes, biscuits, bread and even a very controversial taco recipe. Yet while many viewers have been delighted by the bakes themselves, some fans have been tuning in simply to catch a glimpse of Sandro Farmhouse, a London based contestant hoping to wow the judges with his stunning baking skills.

The Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington has opened up about the trauma she went through after doctors told her she needed to lose weight in order to have a baby. Laura, 32, had been trying to conceive for three years with her husband Matt, when they decided to try IVF. Doctors told Laura beforehand though that she must shed 14st if she hoped to start the process.The 2020 GBBO finalist was left distraught and her mental health continued to decline as her friends began to have children around her, which she found "upsetting", despite being happy for them.

Fans of the Great British Bake Off were left reeling on Tuesday after the technical challenge called for the contestants to make Tacos. After thirteen seasons, the Great British Bake Off has made just about every cake out there, and yet, the nation is still obsessed.

The fourth episode of the current series of the Great British Bake Off saw the contestants take on Mexican Week for the first time ever.The remaining 10 bakers were tasked with creating a pan dulce, a street food staple and a show-stopping tres leches cake. While Maxy was named Star Baker after blowing judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith away with her creations, it was unfortunately time for another contestant to head home.

Dame Prue Leith has recalled the horrific moment she drowned a bag of kittens with her mother as a child, dubbing the ordeal a “traumatic experience.” The Great British Bake Off judge detailed the incident in her memoir entitled, I’ll Try Anything Once, which takes a deep dive into Prue’s career from her immigration to the UK in the 1960s to opening her own cooking classes in the country’s capital. While the book is undoubtedly filled with funny tidbits and laughable moments, one particularly dark except has shocked fans so much they are flocking to social media to share their concern.The 82 year old judge, who grew up in South Africa, wrote: “'My mother and I, then 11, had just drowned some kittens… and for weeks I imagined those poor dead creatures.

The Great British Bake Off aired an exit twist on Tuesday as the Channel 4 show revealed that no one would be leaving the tent after Bread Week. During the latest instalment, Rebs and Abdul were forced to pull out of filming due to "feeling under the weather", meaning they are still guaranteed a place in the show next week.

The Great British Bake Off's Val Stones has revealed that her voice was used in DC Comics film DC League of Super-Pets earlier this year. Val, 72, soared to fame in 2016 on the seventh series of the hit Channel 4 baking show, which was airing on BBC at the time and where Candice Brown was crowned the winner.

Great British Bake Off made a triumphant return to our screens last week, with a fresh batch of budding bakers ready to battle it out to be crowned this year's winner. Avid GBBO fans might have noticed that the show's famous white baking tent was in a different location to the last couple of years, and it's been revealed why. Although to some newer fans of the show, the scene might seem brand new, but in actual fact, filming of the show has returned to Welford Park in Berkshire - a Grade-I listed stately home - in the grounds of which it was originally filmed from 2014 to 2019.

Matt Lucas has explained his decision to lose weight after Great British Bake Off fans were left in shock by his new look in the first episode of the latest series. On Tuesday evening this week, the Channel 4 series returned for its 2022 series and fans reacted to the host's transformation.The comedian and presenter has revealed his motivation for shedding the pounds.The Little Britain star, 48, said on Gabby Logan's podcast Midpoint that his reason for wanting to lose weight was that he was re-assessing his life at middle age.The actor and comedian said: "It’s really… I’m 48, my dad died when he was 52, very suddenly. His dad died I think at 56.

Matt Lucas has undergone a dramatic transformation that has seen the star shed several pounds, leaving The Great British Bake Off fans stunned. However, despite the 48-year-old initially putting his weight gain down to eating too many of the sweet treats on offer in the white tent, there appears to be a much more heartbreaking reason behind it. In 2009 Matt's ex husband Kevin McGee tragically died by suicide, just ten months after divorcing Matt in High Court.

Channel 4 kept fans amused with the return of The Great British Bake Off this week as a new group of bakers took to the famous tent to show off their culinary skills. Over the years, the show has been the catalyst for the birth for some of the nation’s most loved stars, who have racked up legions of fans away from the baking world. While some have changed aplenty since their stint on GBBO, others have had extreme makeovers including one Strictly star and a bodybuilder.

The Great British Bake Off returned to Channel 4 on Tuesday night complete with a Star Wars skit. At the start of the episode, Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas transformed into several iconic characters for a pun-filled opening. It started with: "A long time ago in a tent far far away…" as Matt, 48, appeared as Luke Piewalker, a play on Luke Skywalker.

The Great British Bake Off announced the first contestant to leave the 2022 tent on Tuesday night after it returned with a new batch of amateur bakers. During the opening episode, the contestants had to create mini sandwich cakes, a red velvet cake and a showstopper 3D replica of their home.

The Great British Bake Off viewers have praised the show for bringing "comfort" as the latest series of the hit Channel 4 show returned on Tuesday night with a new batch of amateur bakers. As families across the country continue to mourn Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday, many channels have decided to change their schedules to accommodate round the clock news coverage of the sad event, including Strictly Come Dancing after it was announced their 2022 launch show has officially been postponed.

The 2022 series of the Great British Bake Off will go ahead as planned on Tuesday 13 September. Channel 4 has confirmed that the new series will still air as originally planned, despite many other TV channels changing their schedules due to the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II.

A Gemma Collins superfan, a woman who took her cat to prom and "Compost Carole" are among the quirky Great British Bake Off 2022 contestants this year.The full line-up has been revealed ahead of the new series of the Channel 4 Show, which starts on Tuesday 13 September at 8pm, when a new batch of diverse amateur bakers enter the tent. As usual, they will need to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith to be crowned the champion, while hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding are also back for series 13. So who are the contestants this year? Meet then below...

The Great British Bake Off start date has been announced.Taking to their official Instagram page, the show shared a snap of Paul Hollywood, Dame Prue Leith, Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.The caption then read: "In knead of some good news? Here’s a little something… "The Great British Bake Off is back on your screens on Tuesday 13th September at 8pm!" Many viewers were certainly excited about the news of the show returning.Taking to the comment section, one viewer wrote: "Can't wait, see you on the 13th September 8pm #GBBO." A second said: "Happy to see Noel looking as dazzling and vampiric as ever." Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter "Did need some good news! Very exciting," another commented. A fourth wrote: "Woohoo my favourite is back." And others said: "Tuesdays just got better," "This makes my day! I can't wait to try the weekly challenges," and "Omg my life has meaning literally.

The Great British Bake Off 2020 winner Peter Sawkins has taken to Instagram to clarify that he does "not identify as LGBTQ+", after a video he posted of his holiday including a clip of him holding hands with a male friend led people to think he was "coming out" as gay during Pride month.The 21 year old took to his Instagram on Saturday to post a video of his cultural trip to Morocco, which was put to the soundtrack of I Found You by Stephen Sanchez.The video started with him leading a mystery person, who was filming him, by the hand as Peter looked back at the camera and beamed.The clip then cut to Peter showing off the delights of the place they were visiting, taking a second to smell some leaves and take a break on a bench. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter . You can sign up at the top of the page.

The Great British Bake Off fans went wild over former Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly's pink hair on Tuesday's episode.The Gentleman Jack star, 42, who used to play Becky McDonald on the cobbles, joined Mo Farah, Motsi Mabuse and Ben Miller in the tent for The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer. Viewers were quick to go wild over Katherine's pink hair as the star is known for her signature blonde or brunette locks. Taking to Twitter, one person said: "I love Katherine's hair! #GBBO." A different account put: "Oh hello @katherine_kelly #gbbo" followed with heart eye emojis.

The Great British Bake Off presenter Matt Lucas has hit back at claims that he was shown ‘favouritism’ when he made his baking debut in the tent. In the most recent episode of the Celebrity Bake Off, Matt donned his apron and stepped in to compete against the likes of Example and Annie Mac when another famous face dropped out of the show at the last minute.The 48 year old was seen attempting to make glass window biscuits, and judge Paul Hollywood soon stepped in to give him a helping hand.

Example has revealed that Matt Lucas had to step in as a contestant on The Great Celebrity Bake Off after Martine McCutcheon pulled out of the show last minute. The Great British Bake Off special in aid of Stand up to Cancer has seen a new host of celebrities step into the famous tent to bake for the judges, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.

The Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain has collaborated with much-loved high street shop Next on an exclusive headscarf and turban collection and it's simply brilliant.The 37 year old who won the hit baking show back in 2015 recently showed off her huge kitchen, has swapped the kitchen for a design studio as she curates a special collection close to her heart.The range is bursting with playful prints and summer inspired neutrals is on sale now on the brands website and prices start from just £10. When discussing the collection Nadiya said: "As someone who has worn headscarves as young as my early teens, finding headscarves on the high street has always been a struggle." For all the latest celebrity news – including their style secrets! – sign up to the OK! Daily Newsletter.