The Great British Bake Off may appear to be a simple baking competition, but drama lies beneath, as Noel Fielding admits his co-star had some choice words for him.
The celebrity version of the renowned show typically produces harmless anecdotes, such as Adam Hills taking some of Heartstopper Joe Locke’s cookies for his daughter.
However, Noel had a less-than-polite exchange with his former co-star Matt Lucas, who unexpectedly quit the programme last year.
The 50-year-old personality has been presenting the programme since 2017 and will return in the spring for the next Celebrity Bake Off season, alongside co-host Alison Hammond.
As judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood prepare to consume hundreds of cakes, pastries, and cookies, Noel described the tense moment when Matt, 49, yelled at him.
Noel said to James Acaster and Ed Gamble on their Off Menu podcast that he wing it on the programme and simply likes delving ‘deeper and deeper into the madness of baking’.
‘When I was there, Matt was on because there were loads of dropouts,’ James began, prompting laughter from the Mighty Boosh star.
‘He was having a breakdown, he told me to f**k off at one point,’ shared Noel with a chuckle. ‘I just came out and I was laughing at him and he was like “oh f**k off”.’
Realising what he’d said, the Little Britain actor immediately said: ‘I’m really sorry, I’m just really stressed.’
Noel replied: ‘I was like “Are you joking?” but it really got to him. I think he felt extra pressure because he was supposed to be good or something.’
Despite hosting the show, the comedian declined to fill in for any of the numerous celebrities that dropped out during the 2019 season.
James, who has previously appeared on Celebrity Bake Off, also said that former presenter Sandi Toksvig had to stand in for Big Narstie on his season after collapsing on day one.
The 38-year-old rapper’s health crisis in 2019 sent him to the hospital, prompting a huge lifestyle shift and fitness programme.
‘I couldn’t lift my legs up high. I couldn’t bend. It had been years since I’ve stretched,’ he confessed in a recent interview with Kelly Brook.
On the podcast, Noel added: ‘If you ever think you’re loose doing comedy, Big Narstie, he’s so funny but I really don’t know how he gets from A to B. It’s remarkable.
He then shared the incredible tidbit that the star had thought he was ‘Neil from the Young Ones’, adding: ‘That was in the 80s, I’d be like 90.’
Despite correcting him, the presenter replied: ‘Yeah, yeah, Neil’ to which Noel just agreed as ‘reality is whatever he says’.
Celebrity Bake Off returns later this year on Channel 4.