Just ten days left to apply for series 2 of The Great Irish Bake Off!

Budding bakers have just TEN days left to apply for the next series of The Great Irish Bake Off on TV3. The station is calling out for interested applicants to dust down their aprons and take part in the second series which is due to get underway in the coming months. 

Applications for the second series of The Great Irish Bake Off are now open and will close on Friday 17th January, 2014.Presented by former Big Brother star and presenter 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.

The BBC worldwide format, produced by Sideline for TV3, has been a resounding success, averaging 208,000 viewers each week. The Great Irish Bake Off even found a fan in UK radio host Chris Evans who said it was his “new favourite show in the world” after the show’s presenter Anna Nolan appeared on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.

Each week The Great Irish Bake Off pulled in an average share of 13.37% individual viewers and an average reach of 450,000, as the 12 amateur bakers tested their skills and made their way through a feast of challenges.

The second series of the mouth-watering baking contest will once again be judged by renowned Cookery Writer and Forager, Biddy White Lennon and award-winning Executive Pastry Chef from The Merrion Hotel, Paul Kelly.

If you think you have what it takes to become the next big thing in baking, this is your chance. All you have to do is complete the short application process which only takes a few minutes. Interested applicants also have the option to record a LIVE 60 second video audition.

For your chance to enter TV3's The Great Irish Bake Off Series Two, log onto www.tv3.ie/bakeoff and click the Apply Now button.

Cake and Gossip: Become a Cake Clubber!

Ever since series three of the Great British Bake Off started off a few weeks our house has been groaning under the weight of cakes, buns and puddings! Not that anyone is complaining mind you. I have always loved to bake as I find it therapeutic and you can't argue with the end result! In tandem with the Great British Bake Off, Catriona from Wholesome Ireland is running a fun Irish Bake Off where people can take part in a challenge from that week. It is a great excuse to try something new and to work on technical skills that you may not have attempted before. There is even a prize for the weekly winner from Dr. Oetker. So far I have tried a Key Lime Pie, Crème Caramels, Sticky Toffee Pudding and this week it is Chelsea buns. All the photos/yumminess are up on Facebook. 

Soon though the Great British Bake Off will be over and no doubt we will have to wait a while to see what TV3 does with their promised Irish version. So in the meantime here is a great idea from Odlums for all bakers. Let me introduce the Cake Club a fun way for you and your friends or colleagues to learn how to bake cakes and feast on the yummy end results together. Don’t worry if you’re not an accomplished baker there are recipes to suit all skill levels. The whole idea of Cake Club is that it gives novice bakers the chance to roll up their sleeves and give something a whirl and it gives experienced bakers a chance to show off their skills.  

Taking part is easy – all you have to do is get a group of friends together, pick a day and then each week a different Cake Clubber bakes their own choice and everyone gets to eat it!! Sounds like my kind of club. There are a few easy rules to follow, my favourite being rule 3 ‘Despite the fact that it might seem like a good idea, it’s usually best to invite more than just yourself to be in your Cake Club. Otherwise, it’s just gluttony’. I am tempted to break it, so so tempted!! There is also a handy blagger’s guide to Cake Club in case you feel out of your depth, a list of recipes, A Cake Club Bible and a handy planner. So who knows this time next year you might just be entering yourself for series two of the Great Irish Bake Off!!