CORK food expert Lilly Higgins has been appointed to a judging position that most of Ireland would be jealous of – she’s going to be judge on the Great Irish Bake Off.
The talented food writer, blogger, photographer and cook will join presenter Anna Nolan and fellow judge Paul Kelly, a pastry chef at the Merrion Hotel, for this year’s competition.
The show, which is currently being filmed in Wicklow, is due to air on TV3 this autumn.
“It’s everyone’s ideal job,” Lilly said. “My only complaint is that I can only take one fork of everything,” the Cobh native added.
“I remember writing about the show three years ago thinking how much I’d love to do it, so I’m delighted that I’ve been asked.” Lilly said that the qualities that she is looking for in a potential winner are creativity, natural talent and passion.
“I love seeing people who realise how great baking is later in life too. Sometimes people discover the joys of baking bread in their 20s, and I love that instinctive Irish mammy way of baking, where everything is measured in handfuls,” she said. Higgins has finished the first week of filming, and they are set to continue for the rest of the month.
“We have the cream of the crop competing on the show this year, and there are some great personalities. I’m really looking forward to the rest of filming, and I can’t wait to watch it,” she said.
Higgins says that the Great Irish Bake Off is a completely different take on the UK version, which it borrows its format from.
“Paul Merrion is nothing like Paul Hollywood, although they share the same first name, and Anna’s fantastic to work with, it’s been really good fun,” she said.
The food writer said that if she were forced to choose a judge from the British Bake Off, she says she would probably be most like Mary Berry, because she likes nostalgic bakes, but with a modern twist. These are the types of challenges that she has set contestants in the competition so far.
“Because contestants know in advance that bread week, or cake week or chocolate week is approaching, they have time to practice these skills beforehand, so a really great part of the show will be seeing people improve and learn week by week. Also, we give feedback on the show as to where people went wrong and how they can improve, so viewers can pick up good tips too.”