We caught up with Rowan to talk baking, why he got the GBBO boot – and scoffing cake and drinking martinis with Joanna Lumley.
You’ve teamed up with Matthews Cotswold Flour as its new ambassador. Why?
“I’ve always loved working with good quality ingredients, so when they came knocking it felt like a match made in heaven. I get to create some delicious bakes using ingredients that I know are the best, that I can then share with my audience.”
You’re developing monthly recipes using the flour, kicking off with a Strawberry & Passionfruit Eton Mess Cake Mess. Why that dish?
“I think it encapsulates what I love to do best – create simple classics, while giving them a unique spin with flavours you might not think to put together.”
What other recipes can we look forward to?
“I have a pretty spectacular summery chocolate cake recipe coming soon…”
You appeared in Series 14 of GBBO. Why were you keen to be on the show?
“I’ve always loved to bake, and having grown up with the show I decided it was my time to appear. I remember being 10 years old watching the first series, and hoping I could do something similar one day.”
What do you think won the casting agents over – besides your baking?
“I’d like to think my amazing personality had something to with it! And my humility.”
You left in Week 5: Pastry Week. Why do you think the presenters picked you?
“I’m big on calling a spade a spade, and I left because my pies tasted terrible – and they looked atrocious! As I made Ab Fab-inspired pies, I painted Joanna Lumley onto the crust, and she looked like a drunk Ziggy Stardust! I was ashamed to present them to the judges, and they shared my sentiments exactly. Hence, I was given the boot.”
You’re now a food content creator, having amassed over 85k Instagram followers. Why do you think you’ve been successful?
“I’ve put in a lot of work to grow my audience and share genuinely delicious, easy to follow recipes. It’s incredibly rewarding when I do share my bakes that so many people recreate them.”
Companies must send you a lot of products. What’s been the best one to date?
“I must say the stand mixer I received just after my Bake Off appearance was pretty great!”
And the most bizarre?
“I’ve never received anything bizarre – yet!”
Do you get many comments asking for help when it comes to baking?
“Yes – and I absolutely love it! Baking can be stressful for people who might have never done it before, so I’m always on hand for any tips or tricks people might need.”
What do you say to someone who believes they can’t bake?
“Reading a recipe and baking from it is no different to reading a book and following a story. It just takes a little patience, but follow the steps and you’ll have something delicious in no time.”
Tell us a common baking mistake and how you can prevent it from happening.
“Sunken cakes are so common, and my belief is low and slow wins the race. The cake bakes for slightly longer at a lower temperature, and this ensures a perfectly flat rise every time.”
You’ve one celeb to bake for – who and why?
“Joanna Lumley, because I think we’d have a slice of freshly-baked cake followed by a gossip and several martinis. And I can tell her I painted her onto a pie!”
You’re hungover and in need of something to help. What’s your go-to food?
“KFC chicken tenders with gravy. Or a Chinese. And yes, I also get chips with it. I’m a classy lad.”
What do you love to do when you’re not baking?
“My favourite hobby is having an Aperol Spritz sitting near a body of water somewhere.”
Finally, please tell us one fact that no one knows about you – until now…
“I spent my youth baking cakes and being a teacher’s pet by day, and drinking knock-off vodka in fields by night. I like to think it’s made me a balanced individual, but I was probably just a nightmare 15 year old who could apologise to my parents with cake – and an A+ grade in English.”
For more information on Matthews Cotswold Flour visit www.cotswoldflour.com, and follow Rowan on his Instagram account at instagram.com/rowanclaughton
