Tips

Little words of wisdom – directly from celebrities – about how to make the most of life.

Please excuse the quality of the videos. It shows they are authentic!

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and we hop, skipped and jumped on a train out of the City and into the leafy county of Kent to interview the ‘King of Cakes’ himself Paul Hollywood. Paul was launching the Jubilee inspired, three tiered Victoria sponge at a Vintage Inn hotel in Farningham.

The cake slices will feature on the menu of every Vintage Inn all the way through till the end of August, with 15p of each cake sold going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

We caught up with the silver fox and asked him about his involvement with the cake, the Great British Bake Off and possibly being Mary Berry’s son:

LLAVIP: What were your thought processes behind the recipe and getting involved in the project?

Paul: They came to me with it. It was a two fold thing really. The fact the cake itself is delicious. I put Ruth through on the first series of Bake Off with a boybake cake she did and this is similar. It’s got blueberry and raspberry compote, cream, summer berries and a light sponge. At the end of the day its a great cake and the fact that it gives 15p to Marie Curie Cancer Care is an added bonus. So it wasn’t a great push to get me involved.

LLAVIP: What do you think of the recipe?

Paul: I did go through the recipe and how they made it etc and it’s very good. The consistency is great. I’ve had many slices and it is a very tasty cake. Each slice has to be the same and it was. I hope people like it, Im sure they will. For me, a little bit of extra cream drizzled on it wouldn’t hurt too.

LLAVIP: How do you think it represents the Queen’s Jubilee?

Paul: The representation of the Jubilee is there. The red raspberries and summer berries, the blue of the blueberries and white of the cream. So there is a nod towards the Queen. I’m wondering if in Bake Off there will be something similar.

LLAVIP: Ah, so you are doing another series then?

Paul: We are in the middle of filming the series now in Somerset. I was filming yesterday actually. And we will be doing another series next year. Plus we are doing junior and celebrity bake off too.

LLAVIP: What can we expect from this years series?

Paul: The standard this year is high. The people we’ve got are growing on me now. They’re a bit, I didn’t know how to take to them at first. To be honest I’ve had to raise my bar as they are very good bakers. So for me to have a go at them is difficult. The technical challenges are difficult this year. The contestants are going to have to work twice as hard.

LLAVIP: Last year we had Rob as the eye candy for the girls. Do we have anyone to have a perv over this year?

Paul: (Laughs) The eye candy for the girls this year. Hmmm, there are a couple but I can’t tell you. Mel and Sue have fallen for them though, so you have competition. For the lads there are a few girls too.

LLAVIP: Do you think you’re the inspiration behind many men trying their hand at baking on and off the show?

Paul: If I wasn’t in it and it was just the girls then perhaps the men wouldn’t be so interested. I’m there as a male representative. If that then gets guys baking, then that’s great.

LLAVIP: Did you ever think you would take part in a show like Great British Bake Off?

Paul: People say to me its quite a feminine, middle England, Cath Kidson thing to do. And I’ve questioned why people like me in it as I technically shouldn’t be there, as I’m from the North and a bit rough and ready.

LLAVIP: Are you comfortable with being the shows baddy?

Paul: I’m always the baddy. But I’m the goody when Mary’s wrong. Mary has disagreed with me this year. Some of the bakers have told me I’m wrong too. They’re wrong, but I admire that they stood up to me. I’ve marked their card now so they will never get to the final. (Laughs)

LLAVIP: You and Mary have great chemistry, do you think that helps when filming?

Paul: Mary is my mother. When I started the rumours that I was her son I thought it was quite funny. We have the same eyes, and passion for baking. I think that I was adopted, perhaps she had an affair with a Northern bloke and I found her years later. I’m only joking! But me and Mary get on very well.

LLAVIP: Paul, what are your top three baking tips for aspirational bakers out there?

Paul: Number one is consistency with ingredients. They have to be the same – same eggs, flour, butter etc, otherwise each cake will come out differently.

Number two is make sure everything is the same temperature. You are in danger of ingredients curdling otherwise.

Number three is please don’t leave your flour, baking powder and such items in the cupboard for years. Buy some new ones.

To visit a Vintage Inn take a look at the website here.

Katy B Interview

Wednesday 16th of May 2012 07:25 by zoegrif

Not content with singing the Olympic tune, Katy B is getting all athletic on us and is getting in tip top shape with the Nike training club. The red headed singer, who we have to say is looking in great shape is gearing up for her summer performance at the Olympics and at Nike’s first Training Club Live Festival. The festival will take place at Old Billingsgate Market, in London on the 7th July and will see Katy performing and even taking part in the Nike activities.

We caught up with Katy B to ask about her exercise regime, festival fashion and how Mark Ronson cannot be trusted:

LLAVIP: How do you like to work out?

Katy: I do the Nike Training club every Tuesday and I work with my trainer Sonia too. She works me hard, but the music we play is really important as it keeps me motivated. I really like Rihanna’s We Found Love.

LLAVIP: Which athlete are you backing this summer?

Katy: There’s a table tennis player called Darius Knight who’s from Battersea, so I will definitely be backing him. I also love Paula Radcliffe who I bumped into the other day, and got completely starstruck.

LLAVIP: What are your festival fashion tips?

Katy: I’m really liking the wedge trainers. I can’t really wear heels on stage as I like to run around a lot, so these are perfect.

LLAVIP: We’ve heard through the grapevine that Mark Ronson is a bit of a practical joker. Did he plays any jokes on you in the studio?

Katy: I’m quite a gullible person so when he tells me something I can’t tell if he’s taking the mickey. He can keep a straight face so he sometimes tells me things and makes me believe them.

LLAVIP: Do you think your friend, Jessie J is getting a bad time over The Voice?

Katy: People need to remember what The Voice is all about. It’s about the talent and everything else should be forgotten about.

Amanda Wakeley Interview

Tuesday 10th of April 2012 09:49 by HannahP

Tags: amanda wakeley

Bath In Fashion Interview

Straight from London Fashion Week the Amanda Wakeley S/S 2012 show was brought to the Forum in Bath and tastefully set in the building’s Art-Deco Ballroom for the city’s new Bath In Fashion extravaganza.

When the lights went down and the music began, one by one models appeared wearing matching black headbands, skin clutching bracelets and wide rings designed by Amanda Wakeley herself. The models entered with attitude dressed in navy and grey sport luxe. Think: Independent working woman. Then daytime glamour took over with both short and lengthy dresses in bright turquoise, tomato red and mustard yellow which draped from models shoulder. The image of beach goddesses was brought to mind with the occasional bold print causing you to double take and stare. Flowing into the evening we saw a sparkle of black and yellow dresses embellished with silver crystal tops and low slung backs sweeping towards the floor.

And then we got a chance to Amanda Wakeley:

What was your inspiration for the collection?

I am inspired by women. Slim Keith is a tall, powerful athletic woman in New York, she was my loose inspiration for this year.

What are the key colours for summer?

Bright colours: Turquoise, yellow and red. But also grey and navy.

What are the key materials for summer?

Silk and Scuba jersey because it has a high stretch and is smooth to touch.

What was the last item of clothing you bought and why did you love it?

T-shirt by American Vintage, I just love their clothing.

How can someone can go from day to night in style?

A day dress should be sport luxe and for the evening contemporary glamour, goddess dressing.

Proudest moment?

Well my fondest moment was when the late Princess of Wales resigned from public life in 1993 wearing an Amanda Wakeley suit. Also when I see a business woman reaching for her Amanda Wakeley.

How would you like to be remembered?

For empowering women, making women feel like an inner goddess.

Gok Wan – VIP Fashion Tip

Tuesday 24th of January 2012 17:08 by zoegrif

Tags: gok wan

Gok Wan praises the benefits of a nice smile – get your pearly whites gleaming by checking out out where your nearest NHS dentist is by clicking here

He was speaking at the launch of Simply Yours lingerie, for which he’s designed a Shapewear range – click here for more details

DJ Sam Young – February Music Tips

Thursday 22nd of December 2011 12:08 by zoegrif

Tags: sam young

If a celebrity’s having a party – in London, in New York, in St Barts, St Tropez, Ibiza, anywhere generally fabulous – they’ll often fly in Sam Young to DJ. He also has nights at Boujis, Chinawhite and The Playboy Club. He’s on speed dial if anyone important is hosting an event.

With Valentine’s Day and London Fashion Week coming up, we spoke to Sam about what he’s doing and what he’ll be playing for the cool kids.

QS: So Sam, what’s big this month?

SAM: On Thursday I am making a guest appearance at Word at the W Hotel, Leicester Sq, going back to my roots with some old skool hip hop and urban sounds; playing these is I started my DJ career, believe it or not. I do get to DJ at a lot of posh hotels…the swankiest hotel I’ve ever DJed at is theBorgata in Atlantic City. The club they have Mur Mur is amazing and I play there every time I’m in the US – here’s a video of me at the club