Paul Hollywood still can’t fly his £400,000 helicopter that caused row with neighbours

Paul Hollywood reportedly found himself at the centre of a row with his neighbours over his £400,000 helicopter – that he can’t fly.

The Great British Bake Off judge was seen at the helm of his chopper this weekend after fed-up locals are said to have complained about him landing it in his back garden in Kent.

Paul, 59, was ultimately forced to shift it to a nearby aerodrome in January after it remained at his home throughout last summer while he learned to fly.

After almost two years, however, the chef is still training.

Photos capture the TV personality wearing a branded jacket from his helicopter flying school, sitting in the cockpit of his Robinson R44 with an instructor beside him as he flies over Kent.

According to insiders, people usually require around 45 hours of training to qualify for their pilot’s license, but Paul has been at it for 20 months.

‘Most people would’ve been signed off ages ago, but Paul’s still got the stabilisers on,’ said a source.

Nevertheless, he looked in good spirits and appeared confident while taking charge.

It looks like the baker is making the most of his downtime ahead of the new Bake Off series, where it’ll be all change in the famous tent.

While Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will return as hosts with long-standing judge Paul, Dame Prue Leith will no longer be a fixture.

Dame Prue announced last month that she was bowing out, with Nigella Lawson later confirmed as her replacement. She’ll accompany Paul in judging the contestants’ technical and showstopping creations.

South Africa-born TV legend Dame Prue took over the high-profile judging role from Dame Mary Berry in 2017 when Bake Off moved from the BBC to Channel 4, at which point presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins also departed.

Throughout her stint, Dame Prue has judged over 400 challenges but said she felt this was the ‘right time’ to dip out.

In a statement issued in January, she added that there’s ‘so much [she’d] like to do’ with her spare time, especially when it comes to spending summers in her garden.

Ahead of Nigella’s announcement, she also said: ‘Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.’

She later gave the 66-year-old – who declared that she was ‘honoured’ to be joining the Bake Off family – her full blessing, ‘thrilled’ that she was to have the experience as she did.

‘She’s sassy, fun, and she knows her onions — and her croissants, cake, and crumble,’ added the broadcaster.

As for Paul, he’s a Bake Off staple, having been a regular judge since 2010, with his culinary career taking him all over the world in the years since, including to the States to judge The Great American Baking Show.

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Speaking previously about his love for the show, he called it a ‘real treat’ of a job, saying he’s had the ‘time of [his] life’ over the years, ‘meeting some incredible bakers’.

Asked what the worst part of his role is, to the sound of tiny violins, Paul told Milk Street: ‘When you’re forced to eat 36 bites of something that’s extremely sweet. Even though it sounds amazing. You’re filling yourself, you feel bloated; it’s not a very nice experience.’

Upon learning that Dame Prue would be leaving his side, Paul shared a sweet social media post, writing alongside a snap of them together: ‘You’re the best Prue! ❤️ ‘

But never fear, because baking queen Dame Mary reckons he and Nigella will ‘get on like a house on fire’, recently telling Radio Times how excited she is for the programme to have a ‘new flavour’.

Paul will next step inside the tent when the Celebrity Bake Off returns in spring, with renowned pastry chef Cherish Finden joining as a judge while Paul (possibly) dishes out some handshakes.

The starry lineup includes Molly-Mae Hague, Sam Thompson, JoJo Siwa, Mark Wright, and Scott Mills.

Reps for Paul Hollywood have been contacted for comment.

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