Who Do You Think You Are? (Paul Hollywood)

Paul Hollywood is best known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. He learned his trade at his father’s bakery where he worked as a teenager and has been baking ever since, progressing to become head baker at a number of hotels (including The Dorchester) before turning his talents to television. He lives in Kent with his wife Alex and their son.

“Everyone wants to know where their family’s from. I know we’ve got family in Scotland and bits round the country, so what makes me tick? What’s my genetic structure, where did it come from? I’d be fascinated to find out.”

“I felt close to my Grandad. I think it was just part of the way our family was. I know during the war he spent time in North Africa, and I know he spent time in Italy, Anzio, and that is pretty much it. To find out what he did, and what he went through, emotionally that will affect me but I’d love to find out.”

Paul became very close to his maternal grandfather Norman (pictured) when his own parents divorced. He grew up near them in Wallasey, but despite this he knows little about his Grandfather’s life, and particularly his experiences during World War II. Paul remembers that his Grandfather had a facial tic, and wants to know if it was caused by his war-time service.

Paul’s journey takes him first to North Africa. Norman had only just completed his training when he found himself in Tunisia as part of the Light Anti-Aircraft division tasked with protecting infantry from enemy air attack during a major Allied offensive to take Tunis from the Germans. Paul then travels to Italy where he discovers his Grandfather Norman was part of the landing force that became surrounded by German forces and trapped on the beaches at Anzio for four months, under constant aerial bombardment.

Having gained an understanding of his Grandfather’s experiences during World War II, Paul travels to the Highlands of Scotland on the trail of his great, great, great, great, Grandfather – who he discovers has a very unusual – and demanding – job!

“I always said to myself that I wouldn’t get emotional – it’s difficult to know that he was here. It winds me up that I can’t talk to him about it because I feel now, I feel closer to my Grandad now than I have since he died. He’s been here. I just want to talk to him about it and it’s so frustrating that I can’t.”

My Nanna and Grandad loved each other very much - they were married for 64 years. I don’t know what my Nan knew about my Grandad’s war effort, but I feel now myself that I know a lot more than I did… I’m just happy to have been to places where I’ve felt close to my Grandad. I understand now how it affected him for the rest of his life.”

“Before this I knew nothing about my ancestors and very little about my Grandad. But now, I’ve got something to hang my hat on. I know all about my Grandad’s war, which was incredible, and I know about my ancestors on this particular branch of the family that takes me back to the Highlands of Scotland - the McKenzies. And to be here, part of it all, and know it - is magic!”

Pictured: Paul’s grandfather Norman Harman on the beach at the Anzio 50th commemoration, 1994.

Publicity contact: FD