Chris and Rosie Ramsey on The Great Celebrity Bake for Stand Up To Cancer: Interview
Chris and Rosie have been discussing their time in the tent.
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer is back as twenty stars enter the most famous tent on the tele, and putting their best bakes forward all in efforts to raise awareness of Stand Up To Cancer.
Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will be on hand providing encouragement and tea during the three challenges, while judges Paul Hollywood and new face, Caroline Waldegrave OBE, will be setting three challenges for the Signature, Technical and Showstopper.
Chris & Rosie Ramsey
Your episode is a bit different, isn’t it? You’re up against a brother-and-sister combo in Scarlette and Stuart Douglas. Are you baking as pairs, or individually?
Chris: We are all baking head-to-head! No teams. No helping out. No mercy!!
Can you bake?
Rosie: I bake the odd cake with the kids every now and then. But I don’t think that exactly qualifies me as an expert.
Chris: I can’t bake at all. I’ve never made a cake in my life.
Describe your baking style in one word.
Rosie: Basic.
Chris: Non-existent.
What’s your favourite baked good?
Chris: I love birthday cake! Sponge with jam and cream and icing on top. Absolutely perfect in my opinion.
Rosie: Apple crumble!
Would you describe yourself as foodies?
Chris: Absolutely! We love going to nice places for delicious food, when we get the chance!
Rosie: Yeah, we would pick a night in a restaurant over a night out in a bar any day of the week.
Who does more of the cooking at home?
Chris: Rosie. Does almost all of it! She’s a much better cook than me.
Do you cook together?
Rosie: Absolutely not. And I think people only do that on tv shows, films and adverts. We’d kill each other.
How about your boys – do they get involved?
Rosie: Our eldest, Robin, likes to try his hand at stuff now and then. He actually got a little cooking set for Christmas. He’s pretty good at frying an egg actually!
What’s your favourite dish that the other makes?
Chris: Rosie makes a pasta sauce with roasted veg all blitzed up. It’s incredible!
Rosie: Chris makes a decent spag bol, although he hasn’t done it in ages.
Have you ever had any culinary disasters?
Chris: Every single time I attempt to poach an egg.
What are the strengths and weaknesses you’ll bring with you into the tent?
Chris: I’m pretty good at following instructions, as long as they are clear and detailed. I’ll have absolutely no chance on the technical challenge!
Rosie: I’m a lot less panicky and flappy in the kitchen than Chris. So hopefully I’ll keep a cool head while he’s panicking about stuff.
Rosie, is it fair to say you won’t be baking anything involving cheese?
Rosie: Definitely not! I can’t even touch the stuff!
Are you fans of Bake Off?
Chris: We absolutely love it and watch it with our son Robin.
Rosie: He’s very excited that we are doing it. And a little nervous!
What’s it like, walking into the tent for the first time?
Rosie: Exciting, obviously, but also really lovely! It’s such a nice, warm atmosphere. Chris: And it’s genuinely better kitted out than our own kitchen!
What aspect of the show are you most nervous about?
Rosie: Standing and waiting for the verdict in silence as the judges taste our bakes. It’s nerve wracking enough on the tv! Can’t imagine how it’ll feel in real life.
What’s the worst thing you could be asked to make in the technical?
Chris: Any kind of intricate, delicate, folded and flutter pastry type thing. Absolutely terrifying.
Have you sought advice from anyone ahead of the show?
Chris: I’ve asked some other comedians I know, who have done the show, if the crew give you any help on the day, and apparently they don’t at all… so that’s scary!
Is it an intimidating moment when you look up and see Caroline or Paul studying you?
Rosie: It’s genuinely panic-inducing and makes you momentarily forget what you’re doing.
Chris: Yeah, instead you end up studying their faces trying to work out if they are disgusted with you or not.
Are you competitive? How badly do you want to win?
Chris: We both claim to not be… but when Noel and Allison tell us to start baking, it’ll be on!
How competitive will you be against each other? Will you help each other out, or try and undermine each other?
Chris: I think we will be competitive for a laugh but when the other needs help, we will help.
Rosie: Plus Chris is going to need to taste test any of my butter-icing-based things, as I hate the stuff.
How long will the bragging rights go on for after the show?
Chris: If one of us wins, we will mention it daily to the other for possibly a decade or two.
What would it mean to you to get a Hollywood handshake?
Rosie: That’s the absolute dream isn’t it. Better than the apron to be fair.
Why are you doing this? Why is SU2C important to you?
Chris: Cancer is a brutal thing that ravages and devastates millions of families so absolutely anything we can do to help raise money to advance treatment and battle cancer, we will do.
Rosie: It’s such a brilliant cause, as well as being a brilliant experience. It’s an honour to be a part of Bake Off for SU2C.
The Great Celebrity Bake for Stand Up To Cancer returns to Channel 4 on Sunday 16 March, 19:40, and on catch-up at Channel4.com.
