The Phelps twins, James and Oliver, best known for their portrayal of Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films, recently opened up about their experience hosting Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.” The six-episode series, which premiered last month and concluded with a finale filmed in the iconic Great Hall set from the movies, saw nine teams of bakers compete to create magical Harry Potter-themed treats.
The brothers, joined by culinary experts Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef as judges, along with guest appearances from other Harry Potter cast members, shared that hosting the competition brought a mix of excitement and responsibility. Oliver recounted a particularly nerve-wracking moment before announcing the winners in the finale. Given the exceptional talent displayed by both finalist teams, he felt compelled to triple-check the results to ensure accuracy.
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“Just before we went on set to announce the winner, we were again saying, ‘So who has won?’ Can we triple-check that we’ve got the right answer? Because you don’t want to call the wrong one,” Oliver told PEOPLE. Witnessing the winners’ reactions underscored the significance of the competition and highlighted the bakers’ dedication and talent.
Zoe Burmester and Jordan Pilarski ultimately claimed victory with a spectacular creation, earning the first-ever Wizards of Baking cup and a spot in an upcoming Harry Potter-themed cookbook.
Despite the intense competition, James noted the remarkable composure of the bakers throughout the series. “No one ever got, like, panicky and flappy or anything like that,” he commented, attributing their calmness to their professionalism and experience in high-pressure situations.
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Embracing the spirit of their mischievous onscreen counterparts, the twins admitted to indulging in their fair share of sweets on set. Oliver jokingly attributed his recent preference for loose-fitting clothing to the abundance of treats, while James revealed his strategy of running a 5K each morning to justify indulging in the delicious baked goods.
The brothers also acknowledged the impressive skills of the contestants, which inspired them to try their own hand at baking. James humorously admitted that witnessing the true professionals at work humbled his own baking abilities.
Beyond enjoying the culinary delights, the Phelps twins emphasized their role as hosts in connecting the audience with the contestants and judges. They expressed their hope to continue hosting similar shows in the future.
“Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” is available to stream on Discovery+ and Max.
