Blake Harrison Interview

15 March 2022

Can you bake?

Absolutely not, no.

 

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Oh god. It’s just all weaknesses, really. A complete lack of baking knowledge and experience.

 

Do you cook much at home? Do you have a go-to dish?

No, I’m useless. Frozen pizza, stick it in the over for 20 minutes, and come back when it’s done.

 

Are you beginning to think you may have bitten off more than you can chew, here?

I’m not beginning to! It’s so stressful in there [the tent]! I had a little practise at home, and you kind of amble along and you kind of do it okay, and you correct your mistakes. But as soon as there’s a time limit, and you’ve got Prue and Paul looking over your shoulder, disapprovingly glaring at you, it gets a bit pressurised.

 

Do you watch Bake Off?

Yeah, I do. My daughter really loves the show, so my being on this is a really big deal for her.

 

So all of the other work you’ve done is irrelevant to her, and this is what she’s proud of, is that right?

I would imagine so, because the vast majority of my work she hasn’t seen, and won’t see until she’s much older, I think. There’s a few things that she’s seen me in that she’s enjoyed, but this is going to be the top of her list, for sure.

 

James Buckley won it last time, to his evident surprise. Did you know he had a secret baker in him?

Absolutely not, no!

 

Did you get any tips from him?

No, because we’re not really supposed to tell anyone we’re on it, so I couldn’t ask him.

 

What’s the worst thing you could be asked to make in the competition?

Literally anything. I’ve got no experience of baking anything. Whatever they throw at me, I’m going to be a complete novice.

 

You’re a big UFC fan. Do you think there’ll be a similar take no prisoners vibe in the tent?

[Laughs] No, everyone is really, really lovely. There might be a secretly competitive nature from some people, but it’s all for a really good cause, and everyone’s having a laugh.

 

Are you competitive? How badly do you want to win?

In some things I am quite competitive, but I’m usually competitive in things I think I should be good at, and baking’s not necessarily one of them. I think I’m more competitive with myself, in terms of knowing that I can reach a certain level, and if I don’t reach that then I know I’ll be annoyed with myself. But I don’t expect to win.

 

Is it intimidating, meeting the judges?

I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating meeting them, it’s intimidating when you’re in the middle of a task that you can barely comprehend, and they’re looking at you and their eyes are twitching, and you just know you’re doing something wrong.

 

Why is Stand Up To Cancer important to you?

I think it’s important to everyone. One in two people will get cancer in their lifetime, so if you haven’t been affected by cancer, the chances are someone in your life has. So I think everyone’s just trying to do their bit, really. It’s so important to raise awareness and to help raise money for research.

 

In terms of celebrity charity formats, you’ve scored the winning penalty at Soccer Aid. How would winning in the tent compare to that?

[Laughs] Well, I won’t be winning in the tent, so I guess I’ll never be able to compare the two feelings!

 

In the unlikely event that you do win, how about a spin off series called Blake’s Bakes?

It’s a lovely title, but I don’t think it’s going to come to fruition, I’m afraid!