Rumours were rife about an affair following the end of his marriage but it is only now that Paul Hollywood has admitted to cheating with his co-star Marcela Valladolid.
The Great British Bake Off judge was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live this week when he was asked whether the media has ever intruded on his private life.
Paul with his Great British Bake Off co-star Mary Berry.
He answered yes before adding that it was deserved because he did have an affair while filming the US version of the popular baking show, American Baking Competition.
“It was the biggest mistake of my life,” he said. “I did have an affair in America with my co-judge and it was the biggest mistake of my life, because actually, I still love my wife.”
The 47-year-old also revealed that he was surprised about the amount of attention it attracted: “I was shocked about the whole thing kicking off the way it did… but I deserved it and I’ve taken it. It was my punishment.”
The chef with the woman with whom he had an affair, Marcela Valladolid.
Paul and his wife of 15 years Alexandra, who have a son together, split six months ago but neither confirmed that it was because of an affair and now it appears that both are willing to get past it.
“I’m at that point at the moment where we’re working to get back together again, but it’s going to take time,” Paul explained. “What I did was wrong, but we need space.”
