'We get into scuffles over sponge cake': Mel Giedroyc exclusively reveals GBBO secrets

SHE'S THE unspoken star of The Great British Bake Off and now Mel Giedroyc has turned her hand to judging book competitions - is there anything this woman cannot do?

01:32, Wed, Aug 6, 2014

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny Mel Giedroyc has revealed all about behind the scenes at GBBO[PR]

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Mel revealed there are regular "scuffles" backstage at The Great British Bake Off.

"There's usually a scuffle over sponge. Anything to do with chocolate mousse, that will get Sue and I scuffling. Or off-cuts of sponge. We're like gannets, we sort of hover and swoop onto sponge off-cuts."

She added: "We're in the middle of filming series five at the moment and something so dramatic has happened. More dramatic than custard-gate, more dramatic than muffin-gate. It's more dramatic than anything that's ever happened and that's all I can say, I'm not allowed to say a word."

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny Mel Giedroyc, Cerrie Burnell,Tom Pellereau and Blue Peter's Helen Skelton gather at the awards [PR]

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny Helen Skelton signed autographs for the children [PR]

The TV star is part of a presenting duo with her long-term friend Sue Perkins and the pair have soared into the public's favour as part of the GBBO.

Speaking at the Booktrust Best Book Awards, where she was a judge, Mel said: "It's unbelievable. I feel it's wrong to describe it as a job, or work. It's just ridiculous.

"We're the mad family who are always on the go. An odd, dysfunctional family. It's great we're all extremely good pals and we've had five years together now. We know each other very well and it's a marvellous thing. I feel very, very blessed to do a job that involves eating."

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny Many people say Mel and Sue make the BBC baking show what it is [GETTY]

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny Mel presents with Sue Perkins and hosts Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry [GETTY]

But, aside from her work on TV, the star has a Cambridge University degree, two books, a successful presenting career and a family under her belt.

Speaking about her writing talent, the star said: "I've written two books myself, and I was supposed to write a third. It's about eight years late, thanks for reminding me!"

She explained: "Time has been very, very scarce of late but it's something that I really love doing. I've got some fancy image of 10 years down the line living in some kinds of wisteria-covered cottage and eating even more cake than I do now and wearing an old jumper with corduroy trouser - just spending my days penning possibly some fairly weak domestic-based dramas. That would be my ideal."

Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, Mel Giedroyc GBBO, The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc funny The star was a judge for the Book Trust's Best Book Awards [PR]

Aside from her obvious humour and undeniable brilliantly friendly personality, Mel is a clearly a talented writer.

She revealed she was recently sent an unpublished book to comment on, from a celebrity point of view and ended up falling in love with it.

"I've been sent a book by first-time writer Sarah Vaughn and it's set in a bake-off competition - and it's really, really good. They sent me a book as a proof and I was gripped. There is drama in scones!"