GBBO musical 'cut Paul Hollywood flirting scenes after it 'touched a nerve' ... trends now

The new musical based on The Great British Bake Off reportedly had to be rewritten after Paul Hollywood was left annoyed by scenes depicting his character flirting with a contestant.

According to The Mirror the TV judge, 57, refused to back the production unless the changes were made. 

The show currently playing in London's West star's John Owen-Jones as Phil Hollinghurst a character based on Paul and Haydn Gwynne playing a fictional version of Prue Leith named Pam Lee.

A show insider told the publication: 'It's light-hearted fun and in that spirit, the original script included scenes in which [Paul's character] got close to a baker'.

'But Paul didn't see the funny side at all. He made it clear he wouldn't give the project his backing if the scenes stayed.' 

'The rewrite came quite late so it was very inconvenient.

'It was a shame Paul didn't see the funny side. Clearly, we touched a nerve.' 

MailOnline have contacted Paul's reps for comment.  

Back in 2013 GBBO fans pointed to simmering sexual tension between then 47-year-old Paul and contestant Ruby Tandoh, 21. 

The TV judge, and reported lothario, split from his wife Alex in 2017, ending a 20-year marriage, after she claimed Paul had been adulterous - a claim he denies.

Alex and Paul finalised their divorce in June 2019 and Paul went on to date Summer Monteys-Fullam - who was 24 at the time - who he met while she was working as a barmaid.

Paul and Alex's marriage came close to ending in 2013, when it was revealed that he'd had an affair with his The American Baking Competition co-star Marcela, 42.

He told The Mirror in July of that year that it was 'his fault' and he was very sad about what it had brought on his family. 

The Great British Bake Off Musical has received mixed reviews from critics, following its West End debut at the Noël Coward Theatre earlier this month. 

Following the format of the beloved baking programme, the production sees eight amateur bakers compete to impress two judges and battle to be crowned star baker.

And while The Times gave the show four stars for its 'witty' original songs and John Owen-Jones' 'delightfully gruff performance' as Phil Hollinghurst, the Evening Standard was not so complimentary in its two-star review.

Chief theatre critic Nick Curtis wrote: 'This is low-level entertainment for the undemanding, with brainless characters and unremarkable choreography.'

But the Daily Mail's Jan Moir noted how 'the first night curtain came down to a standing ovation and everyone in the packed theatre seemed to absolutely adore the show'.

She wrote: 'From the young woman with a purple Mohican to the three generations of the same family in front of me, the audience represented the immense span of the Bake Off appeal in one small theatre.' 

Whatsonstage said the show was a 'critic’s dream' and 'exudes a

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