Bake Off co-host Noel Fielding reveals what Prue Leith does with leftover cakes

Co-host of The Great British Bake Off Noel Fielding has revealed what judge Prue Leith does with the leftover cakes after filming, explaining she’s apparently prone to treating her pet pigs to a baked treat or two.

The comedian was appearing on Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year alongside 2018 Bake Off finalist Kim-Joy Hewlett when the truth came out about what really happens to the bakers’ innovative edible creations.

While some may think they’re simply chucked in the bin like Iain’s infamous Baked Alaska from series five, the pair discussed how certain individuals working on the show ensure nothing goes to waste.

Jimmy Carr, host of the annual quiz show, turned first to Kim-Joy to ask her what goes on behind the scenes once the cameras have stopped rolling.

“When you’ve finished with the cake and the judges have had a little bit, what happens to the cake?” he asked with curiosity.

“The crew will eat it,” she responded. “They’d know the best ones, so they all descend on the bake.”

The Bake Off trivia didn’t end there, with Fielding them chiming in to offer another entertaining tidbit.

“Do you want a juicy bit of gossip?” he added. “Prue occasionally, if there’s any cakes leftover, takes them home for her pigs.”

He then joked that “pigs” was simply a nickname Leith had given to him and co-host Sandi Toksvig, before adding: “She genuinely has pigs.”

Several Big Fat Quiz of the Year viewers tweeted about the evident fondness between Fielding and Kim-Joy, having built a close connection on the most recent season of Bake Off.

“Absolutely delighted by the pure joy on @noelfielding11 face when Kim Joy appeared on #BigFatQuiz,” one person tweeted.

Another person described Fielding’s reaction to Kim-Joy being on the show as one of the “purest forms of genuine joy”.

In October 2017, the National Pig Association issued a warning after Leith stated she used to treat her neighbour’s pigs to cakes and bread.

The organisation explained that a 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth had been spread after pigs on a farm in Northumberland were fed infected meat.

This led to a ban on pigswill – kitchen scraps used to feed pigs – in the UK, with the ban then extending throughout the EU by 2003.

An outbreak of Classical Swine Fever in 2000 was also believed to have begun after a pig ate a ham sandwich.

“We simply cannot stress enough the risk posed to the pig industry by the feeding of waste food to pigs,” said NPA chief executive Zoe Davies.

“Most commercial farmers understand this, but as Prue Leith’s comments highlight, the message still is not getting through to members of the public, including those who keep small numbers of livestock and apparently their vets.”

The British Pig Association explains that some food waste such as milk-based and bakery products can be fed to pigs as long as they haven’t been cross-contaminated with meat, but that you should check with your Local Animal Health Office before doing so.