Patisserie porn! Forget Nigella, Paul Hollywood (with his sensuous kneading of dough) is the new cookery sex symbol

By Alasdair Glennie
PUBLISHED: 23:27, 19 March 2013 | UPDATED: 08:35, 20 March 2013


As Nigella Lawson has discovered, a pinch of sex really can give your cookery show a lift.
So when Paul Hollywood launched a programme about making bread he made sure there was no shortage of that particular ingredient.
Some, however, might say he rather overdid the spice after viewers dubbed his show 'patisserie porn'.

Easy dough: Paul Hollywood in action in the kitchen bringing home the bread

Despite his discernible paunch, the 47-year-old master baker has emerged as a bit of a heart-throb.
He had already established a legion of female admirers through his appearances on the Great British Bake Off.
Now Bread has helped cement that reputation with fans praising his deep tan, piercing blue eyes, and 'sexual' way with lumps of dough.

 

The programme – broadcast at 8.30pm on Monday – attracted an average of 2.4million viewers and was one of the most talked about topics on Twitter while it was on air.
Joanne Macfarlane said: 'Is it me or is there something quite sexual about Paul Hollywood?'
Another fan, Jenna Brown, said: 'I'm sorry, but how did he DO that? Malt loaf just managed to look SEXY!! I take my hat off to you Mr Paul Hollywood.'

Bit of crumpet: Paul Hollywood insists he is a reluctant sex symbol

As Mr Hollywood demonstrated a series of bread recipes – for a traditional bloomer, a picnic loaf, a rye, oat and ale round, a malt loaf and a rye and wholemeal trencher – viewers were treated to repeated slow-motion shots of him sensuously kneading dough.
The introductory soundtrack featured 'Whistle', a song by US rapper Flo Rida. The song's full lyrics, not played on the show, make repeated sexual references.
Mr Hollywood, who has an 11-year-old son with his wife Alexandra, explained his kneading technique, saying: 'I use quite a bit of my body weight, down through my hands. It is a good workout. It gets rid of the bingo wings.'
The programme's sexual tone proved too much for some viewers. One, writing under the name DistractableDaisy, said: 'Hahahaha! Finally some cookery porn for the girls. Move over Nigella, Paul Hollywood is the KING of cookery innuendo'.
However, some male watchers seemed bemused by Mr Hollywood's popularity with women. Andrew Nicholas said: 'Paul Hollywood: “play with it, stretch it”...bloody patisserie porn mate!'
Mathew Scott said: 'I'd like to know what tan Paul Hollywood uses! He's always glowing!'
Mr Hollywood insists he is a reluctant sex symbol, recently saying: 'I feel embarrassed all the time.
'I'm really shy. But of course it's very flattering and anyone who says it isn't would be lying. My wife finds it hilarious.'