'Ruby's not my type... Kimberley's far prettier': Paul Hollywood insists former model Tandoh isn't favoured on Bake Off because of her looks
By SARAH BULL
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The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood has denied giving preferential treatment to 21-year-old contestant Ruby Tandoh because of her looks.
The TV judge spoke out after fans of the hit BBC2 show pointed to an on-screen flirtation between him and former model Tandoh.
And denying the claims, Hollywood, 47, insisted he thinks her competitor Kimberley is 'far prettier'.
Outspoken: Paul didn't hold back as he made his feelings clear about Ruby
Not my type: Paul even went as far as to say in the interview that Ruby's fellow contestant Kimberley was 'far prettier' than her
Chemistry? Viewers picked up on an apparent flirtation between Ruby and Paul
Hollywood, who left Alexandra, 49, his wife of 15 years, amid an attempt to launch his career in the US and reports of a relationship with his US co-star Marcela Valladolid, 35, told the Radio Times: 'Personally I think Kimberley's far prettier. With all the love in the world, Ruby's not my type.
'But she's a great baker, one of the most talented bakers who has walked in that tent.
Hollywood, who judges Bake Off with Mary Berry, dismissed as 'rubbish' the suggestion that Ruby's looks had improved her chances on the show.
Co-roles: Paul judges the show with Mary Berry. Here, they are seen testing out one of Ruby's breads
He added: 'My job is to judge what goes on the plate. Always has been, always will be. I don't judge the person - Mary will back me up on this - because it's not one judge doing this. It's two. And we both say the same thing.'
The full interview appears in this week's Radio Times, out now
Meanwhile, Tandoh, who is studying for a philosophy degree, said that she was not bothered by accusations of favouritism.
She said: 'It's easy to brush it off because I know how it was in the tent - and there was no favouritism. It was all very fair so that doesn't get to me very much.'
Ruby also added to student magazine The Tab that Hollywood isn't her type, adding: 'Not my thing, you know, for other people maybe that’s what they go for. He’s a genuinely nice guy, he really is, and I actually quite like his style of baking.
'He has to play the bad cop on screen, but off screen he’s lovely.'
Publishers are said to be preparing to approach the Essex-born student to write a cookery book, which could lead to her own TV show.
Meanwhile, fellow contestant Frances Quinn, 31, said that the bakers were taking Rescue Remedy, a natural flower solution, to get them through the show.
'I feel bad because I'm the one that started the trend for it. I became Ruby's feeder! You're only meant to have a few drops. We'd jokingly go, "A few drops, or a few shots?",' she told the Radio Times.
No truth! Paul Hollywood has denied claims he gives Ruby Tandoh preferential treatment on The Great British Bake Off due to her looks
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2460048/Paul-Hollywood-insists-Ruby-Tandoh-isnt-favoured-looks.html#ixzz2hmWElXdf
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