Ed Balls brands Great British Bake Off judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry as ‘stiff and distant’

A staple of easy-watching telly, Great British Bake Off is often the best way to end a stressful day.

But former shadow chancellor Ed Balls claimed there was ‘no relaxation’ when it came to him filming an episode of the show.

Mr Balls, 53, condemned then judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry as ‘stiff and distant’ and said that ‘disdain hung in the air’ while he was in the tent in 2016.

The former Labour politician, pictured, starred in a charity version, The Great Sport Relief Bake Off, while it was still on BBC1.

Speaking to Noble Rot magazine, Mr Balls – who made banana and sultana muffins for his Signature Challenge – said ‘there was no relaxation about it’. 

‘On Strictly, off camera, the judges were really relaxed and fun,’ he said. ‘But on Bake Off, off camera they were really stiff and distant.’

He added: ‘So, I’m making these muffins, and I’m doing it for charity.

‘I’ve made these banana bread muffins with spelt flour. Paul says, “Why are you using spelt flour?” I said, “Because it’s in the recipe” and he looked at me like, ‘You w*****, is that all you can say?’. 

‘I think he needed me to say, “it produces a lighter crumb”.’ 

The former Labour heavyweight appeared alongside football pundit Chris Kamara, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, and presenter Victoria Coren-Mitchell on the episode.

Despite Balls’ scathing verdict of the judge’s impression of him, his banana muffins were actually rather well-received.

As well as his muffins, Balls created a cake shaped like a ski slope for his Showstopper challenge.

Balls was pipped to the top prize by the Girls Aloud star, whose Showstopper cake depicting a climb up Kilimanjaro wowed judges.