Why GBBO Fans Want Paul Hollywood To Toughen Up

Known as the tougher critic on "The Great British Bake Off," Paul Hollywood is the steely judge keeping contestants on their toes. In fact, a contestant's pinnacle of achievement on the show, maybe even more than winning star baker, is receiving a famous Hollywood handshake. A once rare gesture that has gotten more common in recent years, some argue that the Hollywood handshake has lost its value. However, Hollywood's increasingly frequent handshakes aren't the only reason why fans think the judge has gotten softer over the years — or why some want him to toughen back up.

Everyone has foods that they dislike, and food competition judges are no exception. Still, these critics are held to a higher standard and are generally expected to put their aversions aside to do their job and evaluate dishes objectively. Composing one half of GBBO's judging duo, Hollywood drew up criticism from fans in Season 11 when he told his co-judge, Prue Leith, to "be open-minded" about tasting a contestant's dish containing baked beans, an ingredient she said she "hates" (via The Sun). Hollywood's comment got fans heated given that the week before, his dislike of gherkins meant that a couple of bakers had to do extra work to make pickle-free creations just for him. This 2020 gaffe was a topic of internet conversation yet again as fans discussed Hollywood's "softening" image.