The son of a baker with a chain of shops on the East coast of England, Paul originally trained as a sculptor. He first turned his hand to the art of bread-making at the age of 17, when he served an apprenticeship within his father's business, after which Paul decided to go his own way. Paul has succeeded in building a reputation as one of the best known Artisan bakers in the UK – having worked during his career as Head Baker in some of the most exclusive hotels, Cliveden, the Chester Grosvenor, The Dorchester, and also abroad for six years at the Annabelle and Anassa Resorts in Cyprus. In 1999 Paul returned to England to begin a successful career as a "Celebrity Chef." Paul Hollywood is now the co-presenter of the massively popular BBC2 series The Great British Bake Off, which has been credited with reviving interest in home baking throughout the country. The Guardian has described his partnership with Mary Berry as being "the secret weapon" of the show, and one of reality TV's best ever judging combinations. A massive television personality profile, with guest spots in shows as diverse as The Generation Game, The Heaven and Earth Show, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, and ITV's This Morning, fans are drawn to his charismatic aura.