Gemma Collins has revealed the reason why she appeared on the celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off.
The TV personality, 42, is one of the 20 famous faces to put their baking skills to the test in front of the prying eyes of judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood on the popular Channel 4 baking show.
The celebrity version of the show sees the bakers raise money for Stand Up 2 Cancer, but the former The Only Way Is Essex star admitted there was another reason for her entering the big tent.
Gemma said: "Obviously Stand Up 2 Cancer is a great cause but I’m a huge fan of Paul Hollywood, so when I got the call I was like, ‘I need to see Paul with my own eyeballs’.
"He is gorgeous. I can confirm to every woman on the planet that he is unbelievable in the flesh. Whoever gets to marry Paul Hollywood next will be a lucky woman," she told The Metro.
She added: "Paul Hollywood, bless him, was really complimentary because he saw how much enthusiasm I had and Prue Leith was beautiful."
The series will be Matt Lucas' final one as co-host alongside fellow comedian Noel Fielding after the comic announced his departure last December.
Last week, his replacement was confirmed as This Morning favourite Alison Hammond. She will front the show, which will return to filming this summer with 12 new bakers.
Alison confirmed the news on Twitter, tweeting: "It’s Official!! It’s happening The Great British Bake off! let’s have it – The cake that is so excited @BritishBakeOff @Channel4 @PrueLeith @PaulHollywood @noelfielding11 #GBBO."
The mum-of-one will be the first non-white host or judge in the show’s 14-year history. Many fans had called for a female presenter to replace Lucas after he quit the programme.
The TV star’s career was launched in 2002, when she became the second housemate to be evicted from the third series of Big Brother.
She was signed up as a roving reporter on This Morning and has remained with the ITV daytime show ever since - now hosting every Friday and regular school holidays alongside Dermot O’Leary.
Over the past 20 years, Alison has also appeared as a contestant on several other shows including Celebrity MasterChef in 2006, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2010 and Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
She has already been in the Bake Off tent after she wowed the show’s fans in 2020 with her stint on the celebrity version for Stand Up 2 Cancer.
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