Celebrity Bake Off 2021: The contestants share their favourite cookbooks

Tom Allen is an English comedian, actor, writer and presenter

It’s hardly a surprise that the queen of the kitchen features in this collection of the celebrities’ favourite cookbooks, and its Delia’s calming words that Allen praises. Her ability to talk you through making something like a “proper custard” is “so soothing”, he says, adding that “at times, it’s vaguely chastising re any confusion on vanilla extract vs vanilla essence, but I quite like that”.

“Delia isn’t trying to be our friend, she’s telling us how to bake better and through that, it feels like we’re becoming better people. As far as her famous phrase, ‘Let’s be having ya!’ goes, she had us at ‘Preheat your oven to gas mark 4’.”

Reece Shearsmith is an actor, writer and comedian

We were surprised to see a festive cookbook in the collection, but Shearsmith admits: “Nigel loves Christmas and it’s build-up almost as much as me.” Slater’s book covers “every day from Bonfire Night on 5 November to Candlemass (the end of Christmas for Tudor times) on 2 February”. If you’re looking for a “delicious cosy read stuffed full of amazing treats and sumptuous dishes for every day of the festive season”, then this is the one for you.

Philippa Perry is a psychotherapist and author

Over the years, Felicity Cloake has put various recipes to the test to see whose given version of the dish is best, and this cookbook is the ultimate manual for creating the perfect version of everything. “She tells you about how she gets to the perfect recipe and gives alternatives too so you can alter it to your taste,” says Perry, before noting that the book “follows along the lines I cook – nothing set in stone and many variations on the same dish or bake”. As for her favourite recipe? The ginger cake is the best she’s ever tasted – “especially when I doubled the ginger!”

“On the whole, though I tend not to use recipes for baking. I have embodied the basics and then play about with them. Whether my approach is entirely successful or not? Well, Bake Off will reveal all.”

Anneka Rice is a television presenter, broadcaster and writer

Nigel Slater is a clear favourite among the celebrities, and while Rice noted that she didn’t have a favourite baking book, this cookbook is her go-to. From it you can expect a comprehensive guide to all your favourite comfort foods including baked goats’ cheese and pesto in filo pastry, smoked mackerel dauphinoise and even a classic bacon butty.