Paul Hollywood has shared that he’s on friendly texting terms with a Hollywood A-lister, who occasionally updates him on her life and family.
The Great British Bake Off judge revealed that the hit Channel 4 series has attracted a host of A-list admirers, including Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Michael J Fox, and Lynda Carter.
Paul even featured in a clip shared by Kylie Jenner to her staggering 390 million followers, where she confessed her love for Bake Off and called it her “favourite show”.
Despite his brushes with fame, he admits he isn’t one to mix with the celebrity crowd – apart from one surprise friend.
Speaking to The Times, Paul said he occasionally receives texts from actress Blake Lively. He said: “I’ve got a lot of time for Blake. She texts occasionally, sort of to catch up on what she’s been up to, what Ryan’s up to. It’s lovely, because regardless of their job, they’re just a normal family, mum and dad to some great kids.”
He continued, praising the down-to-earth nature of the couple: “They’re really nice people. I like that communication. I don’t have many friends who are celebrities, it’s not me. I don’t go to a lot of red-carpet stuff. I don’t go to the parties up in London. I don’t like London.”
Paul, the sole original presenter left from Bake Off’s 2010 debut, has also spoken out about his struggle with a “severe” case of carpal tunnel syndrome. It developed from years of dough kneading since he was 17 in his family’s bakery, leading to nerve damage in his wrists.
The presenter could face the risk of entirely losing feeling in his hands if he doesn’t get medical attention.
But he confessed that the idea of undergoing surgery frightened him, leading him to reduce his baking activities as a way to manage the problem.
Sharing his ordeal on the Graham Norton show, Paul explained: “I’ve got carpal tunnel syndrome in both my wrists, it’s severe. It was diagnosed about four years ago, I went to speak to a consultant about it and he said ‘Listen, you’re going to have to have an operation’.”