A celebrity baking competition was described as having strict rules for non-professional bakers. Lena Dunham expected more flexibility because participants included actors and writers. A producer said the first challenge would require a crumpet that “expresses who you are.” Dunham proposed a crumpet inspired by her British shorthair cats, using gray coloring and cat-like features. She planned to pair it with almond butter and raspberry jam, but was warned that Paul Hollywood would not accept store-bought jams or butters. Dunham later consulted a friend about baking, but left after learning production would not help her operate the fancy oven. She said the challenge was beyond what she could handle.
"“I thought, 'Surely they can't expect that much of us. They're calling in actors and writers,'” she told Amy Poehler on the podcast. Dunham then explained that she spoke to a producer, who said the first challenge would be a crumpet that “expresses who you are.” The Famesick writer had the perfect idea."
"“I have British shorthair cats. They're gray. I could do a crumpet that had like um some gray coloring and then do ears on it and then eyes, and it could be like my cats as a crumpet,” she suggested. The producer liked her idea and added that she could make an almond butter and raspberry jam for the treat, but warned that Paul Hollywood was “not comfortable with any store-bought jams or butters.”"
"Unfortunately, it seemed like the celebrity version was still too intense for Dunham, who even consulted a friend about teaching her how to bake. But once she realized that production wouldn't even help her turn on their fancy ove, she was out. “We're out of here. I'm sorry, guys,” she concluded. “I love to try to become an expert at something really quickly, but this was way beyond anything that I could handle.”"
Read at Vulture
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