Harry Potter stars make surprise cameos in new baking show

What did you miss?

Harry Potter stars James and Oliver Phelps have made a comeback as the host of new cooking show Wizards of Baking.

The Food Network baking show — which sees expert bakers paired up to make Harry Potter-themed showstoppers — has just begun streaming in the UK on Prime Video. The baking competition is hosted by James and Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley twins Fred and George in the original Warner Bros movie adaptations of JK Rowling‘s hit novels about the Harry Potter’s adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The first episode saw the contestants compete in a US TV studio to earn a ticket for the Hogwarts Express, in order to bake their Harry Potter creations at Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, surrounded by the sets where the hit films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were made. Nine pairs of bakers took part for the chance to bake for Harry Potter stars Bonnie Wright, Warwick Davis and Evanna Lynch.

What, how, and why?

In the first episode viewers met Luna Lovegood fans Lisa and Mitzi. Cake designer Lisa is famous for her giant bakes, while pastry chef Mitzi is an expert in molecular gastronomy.

The duo wowed chef judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef with their Luna trunk, which included a rotating cake and edible Spectopecs which revealed a secret message written on their showstopper creation.

The judges loved their style and the taste of their Mexican hot chocolate cake and they won a ticket through to the next round.

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Pastry chef Conner is the youngest baker in the competition. He is teamed with trained cake designer Michael and their cake is inspired by the mirror of Erised from The Philosopher’s Stone, which shows whoever looks into it what they want to see.

Pastry chef Yohann and cake designer Kayla began work on their Philosopher’s Stone themed cake — with a broom and Gryffindor scarf, covered in piles of letters from Hogwarts topped with a Golden snitch.

Meanwhile, competitive illusion baker Elizabeth, who has a degree in biology has come out of retirement especially for the and Juan is a trained pastry chef. They plan to create a horses head patronus cake.

Cake artist Hemu and pastry chef Riccardo revealed they were working on an ambitious Whomping Willow cake tree with moving spiders.

What is the latest with HBO turning Harry Potter into a TV series?

In other Harry Potter news, HBO are transforming the books into a TV series that we hope will be spell-binding. It marks nearly 30 years since JK Rowling published the very first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Speculation is rife about who will be taking the top jobs, including Mark Rylance who has been rumoured for the top pick for the role of Dumbledore. Additionally The Hollywood Reporter reported that Paapa Essiedu is being considered to portray Snape.

After the big success of the movies, casting Harry Potter stars will be a huge challenge. Some of the biggest stars in the original Harry Potter franchise include: Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes and Zoe Wanamaker.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking series one is available to stream on Prime Video.