Ready - Set - Bake! The Great Irish Bake Off has arrived in Ireland on TV3.

TV3 GROUP RELEASE                                                                               

IMMEDIATE: Thursday 12th September 2013

 

 

Ready - Set - Bake! The Great Irish Bake Off has arrived in Ireland on TV3.

 

Presented by Anna Nolan alongside judges Biddy White Lennon & Paul Kelly

 

The search is on to find Ireland’s Best Amateur Baker!

 

The Great Irish Bake Off airs Thursday 19th September, 2013 at 9pm on TV3.

 

Interviews available on request

 

Video link to view the full episode is available on request

 

Please note that the result of the episode featured in the video link is strictly embargoed until Thursday 19th September at 10pm.

 

 

Following the roaring success of The Great British Bake Off, this mouth-watering baking contest hits Irish screens from Thursday 19thSeptember 2013 at 9pm on TV3.

 

Presented by former Big Brother star Anna Nolan, The Great Irish Bake Off is the ultimate baking battle where passionate amateur bakers compete to be crowned Ireland’s Best Amateur Baker.

 

Over eight episodes our 12 bakers will bake their way through challenges that will confuse, enlighten and certainly push their baking skills to the limit. They will be carefully watched and critiqued by our judges - renowned Cookery Writer and Forager, Biddy White Lennon and award-winning Executive Pastry Chef from The Merrion Hotel, Paul Kelly. 

 

Find out who can stand the heat and who will have to leave the kitchen! Join TV3 every Thursday in their quest to find Ireland’s Best Amateur Baker and the ultimate winner of The Great Irish Bake Off!

 

Commenting at the launch of the new series, TV3 Group Director of Content, Jeff Ford said: “This outstanding series has been an international success, airing in over 11 countries to date and we, at TV3, are extremely excited to bring this world renowned format to Ireland. Whether you’re a baking enthusiast, a culinary genius or just love to eat good food, we know that ‘The Great Irish Bake Off’ will live up to the expectations of our Irish viewers, offering a fantastic combination of exceptional baking and pure entertainment.”

 

 

The Great Irish Bake Off, proudly supported by Odlums, airs Thursday 19th September, 2013 at 9pm on TV3

 

Images and launch pictures have been sent to your picture desks. For more information contact Brian McEvoy – 086 250 9393.

 

ENDS

For further information
Ciara Byrne

Press Officer

00353 1 419 3329

00353 87 319 9732

 

Sharon McHugh
Head of Press & Publicity

00353 1 419 3430
00353 87 922 4143

publicity@tv3.ie                        
www.tv3.ie

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NOTES TO EDITOR:

 

Biogs

 

Anna Nolan: The Great Irish Bake Off - Presenter

 

Anna’s interest in television started when she watched at least seven hours of television a day as a child.  Her interest became a ‘reality’ when she found herself being watched by everybody else for seven hours a day, as a contestant on the original series of Big Brother for Channel 4, in 2000. From there, she worked at the BBC for two years, presenting series such as Anna in Wonderland and Closure with Davina McCall.

 

In 2003, her presenting saw her front the RTÉ flagship show The Afternoon Show until 2006, when she left to become an award winning reporter on the documentary series Would You Believe. Anna went on to produce the health-based reality show Operation Transformation for three years, the Florida based kids reality show Mission Beach, and series producer of the IFTA nominated series Room To Improve.

 

In 2012, she directed the one hour documentary Perfect Heart, which followed a transplant patient for a year as he waited for a new heart. Anna writes a weekly opinion column for the The Herald and is Development Executive for COCO Television.

 

In 2013, Anna was asked to present The Great Irish Bake Off, and she said “yes” quicker than you can say “Chantilly cream”.

 

Great Irish Bake Off: Biddy White Lennon - Judge

 

Biddy’s passion for food began in the kitchens of some of Dublin’s leading restaurants. She worked in kitchens whenever she was “resting” from acting, her main career. She became one of Ireland’s best known actresses, playing a leading role in The Riordans, the most popular drama series on Irish national television and radio for 21 years. She played regularly in every theatre in Ireland, as well as appearing in both films and on British television. Gradually her career changed through writing for television and radio drama.

 

For 30 years now, Biddy has been a full-time freelance journalist, specialising in food, hospitality and tourism. She has published 13 books - seven about Irish food culture, its history, recipes and ingredients, Irish artisan foods, and the development of a contemporary Irish food culture.

 

Biddy was a founding member of the Irish Food Writers Guild and has for many years been on the coordinating team for the Guild’s Annual Food Awards. She is regularly on the judging panel for a number of other awards for restaurants and hotels. She is also an active member of Slow Food and is currently leader of the Slow Food Sugarloaf Club. She was part of the team that in 2011 and 2012 organised the hugely successful Wild & Slow - the first ever festival devoted entirely to wild food.

 

Her thirteenth book, Wild Food: How to Gather, Preserve and Cook (O’Brien Press), came out in March, and was well received, going straight into the list of bestsellers.

 

The Great Irish Bake Off: Paul Kelly - Judge

 

Paul Kelly has spent close to 20 years in the cooking industry. He started as a commi chef in The Sand House Hotel in Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. He has worked in many of the 5-star hotels and high quality restaurants in Ireland, including The Park Hotel in Kenmare. It was there that he started to find his true calling in the culinary world, pastry.

 

He later moved back to Dublin to work in L’Ecrivan as their first full-time pastry chef.  He finally found his place as Executive Pastry Chef at The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, where he has been working since the hotel opened in 1997. He is a creative risk taker, which has led him to develop many unique concepts such as The Merrion Art Afternoon Tea. This is a creative and inspiring new take on the classic afternoon tea, incorporating The Merrion's extensive art collection.  Paul has also travelled the world in search of new ideas and inspirations to satisfy his insatiable curiosity.

For eight years, Paul was the pastry chef on the Irish Culinary Team, where he represented Ireland on the world culinary stage. He has won many competitions on the world stage and has come full circle - he is now a judge for the World Association of Chefs at international events.

 

Paul developed his passion for teaching over the last five years as a part-time teacher for Culinary Arts in DIT Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin, where he also helps to develop new pastry and baking programs. 

 

 

CONTESTANTS

 

Aoife Nic Aonghusa, 25

Capital Forecasting Analyst, Kildare

 

Aoife grew up in Carbury, Kildare and is the eldest of five. She works as a Capital Forecasting Analyst with Ulster Bank and lives in Smithfield where she frequents the fruit and vegetable market, buying seasonal fruits for her baking.

 

 

Barbara Dolan, 37

Housewife, Dublin.

 

Barbara grew up in Balbriggan and now lives with her family in Balrothery. She is married with four kids and is a stay-at-home mum. Her family is very into sports and she has recently joined a ‘GAA for Mothers’ team: “If you can’t beat them, join them”, she says.

 

Bridget Harney, 28,

Occupational Therapist

 

Bridget grew up on an organic farm in Hollywood, Wicklow, where farming duties were part of everyday life during her upbringing. She now works as an Occupational Therapist in broad mental health in the community in Ballyfermot, which she really enjoys. Bridget is very into animals and they have lots back home on the farm.

 

Laura Carroll, 17

Student, Dublin.

 

Laura lives in Donaghmede, Dublin with her parents and two little brothers. She is in Sixth Year in Manor House, Raheny and will do her Leaving Cert next year. Laura would like to study Culinary Arts in DIT and ultimately wants to bake for a living. She also dreams of becoming a Theoretical Physicist, as she is very interested in Mathematics and Physics. Laura is a keen musician and has her own YouTube channel, with her cover versions of well-known songs. She is also on the school debating team and loves a good debate.

 

Oonagh Barrett, 43

Part Time Holistic Health Teacher & Full Time Mammy, Carlow.

 

Oonagh grew up in Enniscorthy, Wexford and all of her family are keen foodies who cook or bake. She now lives in Carlow with her two kids. Oonagh started her career as a nurse and later went into Holistic Studies; she is now a Holistic Health teacher and mainly teaches nutrition. She loves sports and music, and shares these passions with her kids. They have two dogs and five chickens, which aren’t just good for eggs but make great pets as well. Oonagh likes to be as self-sufficient as she can and is into gardening and foraging.

 

Maryanne Dalton, 36

Lab Manager & Lecturer at NUI Maynooth, from Dublin.

 

Maryanne grew up with a big family in Killiney, Dublin. She now lives in Rathfarnham with her partner and two dogs. Maryanne went to college in Maynooth and now works there. She is a home bird and all of her family are into food and sports; they are huge Munster supporters as her parents are from Limerick. Maryanne has recently got into photography and loves taking her camera up the mountains with her dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

Daire Begley, 42

Quality Control Manager, Kildare

 

Daire grew up in Dublin with three brothers, where his mother taught them all how to cook. He now lives in Kildare with his wife and two kids. He works in a pharmaceutical company as a Quality Control Manager. Daire had always wanted to move to the countryside and loves the space. They have hens, dogs, a kitten and ponies. He loves the great outdoors and does a lot of marathons, swimming, hill-walking and gardening.

 

Jarek Orlowski, 30

Barman, Kilkenny

 

Jarek is from Poland and has been living in Ireland for seven years. He lives in Kilkenny and works in a bar in the city. He lives with his partner Gerard, who is a professional Irish dancer. Jarek has a dalmatian who he adores, but sometimes gets under his feet and stresses him out while he’s baking! Jarek’s best friend Emily encouraged Jarek to apply for the show because she loves his baking.

 

Stephen Chisholm, 22

Business & Economics Student, Belfast.

 

Stephen is from Belfast and is studying Business & Economics at Newcastle University. He has two brothers and two sisters, and goes home regularly to bake in his mum’s kitchen. Although Stephen likes university, he would prefer to be doing something in the food world. Stephen admits that he is not your ‘typical baker’, as he plays a lot of rugby, surfs and is a fully qualified ski instructor.

 

Steve Twydell, 42

Special Needs Assistant, Sligo.

 

Steve is originally from Bedfordshire in the UK, and has lived with his family in Sligo for the past 15 years. He has seven children ranging in age from 19 to one and he recently became a granddad for the first time. Steve is a man of many talents; he used to be a plumber and a carpenter. He writes poetry and short stories in his spare time, and has had his work published for charity. He also has a great love of arts and crafts, and cares for children with special needs, which often involves baking for fun.

 

Tom Walton, 27,

Psychology Research Assistant, Kilkenny.

 

Tom is from Kilkenny, he is a Psychology Research Assistant in DCU, and also works as an Assistant Psychologist with people with autism in Dublin. His job sometimes involves helping his clients with cooking and he says that cooking is a great way of showing people that you can achieve something worthwhile by breaking it down into easy steps. Tom is very sporty; having completed several half marathons, he is now getting into triathlons and is a keen cyclist.

 

Will De Korte, 29

Data Manager, Limerick.

 

Will grew up in Limerick with one brother, his Dutch father and English mother. Baking is in his blood, as his father is a confectioner and his grandfather was a baker. His dad actually discouraged him from becoming a baker because of the hard life and the anti-social hours. Despite this, Will still had the intention of becoming a professional chef after school; he started a course but left before the end of the year and went in a different direction.