- Made By Our Maureen
When the hairy bikers turn out a Topsy Turvy Cake that looks like it’s been created by French patisserie chef, it probably has. Or as near as damn it!
TV cookery food doesn’t happen in camera time; not a bit of it.
With the exception of Come Dine With Me, cookery programmes are more like Blue Peter, when prepared dishes are rushed to set to keep the cameras rolling.
Behind the smiling celebrity cook stands a host of sous chefs, food stylists and props designers.
And that’s true of any cookery demonstration worth its salt. The whole thing is an illusion to tempt us poor mortals into the idea that we too can aspire to the delicious, the five star, the downright novel dishes that will have friends raise their eyebrows in astonishment.
The truth is that help is always on hand to produce fab looking food.
So spare a thought for the preparation that goes into a recipe demonstration or food advert; it’s as painstaking and disciplined as prep in any professional kitchen, only with scripts, storyboards and cameras involved.
And there’s the washing up … don’t imagine for a minute the celeb will be donning her rubber gloves. The honours normally go to the underpaid runner taking his first steps in the TV game!