Bake Off finalist Josh included his post-match pies
Dr Josh Smalley, a chemical biology researcher at the University of Leicester by profession, a full back/fly half at Syston rugby club and outstanding baker by passion, recently made it to the final three of the Great British Bake Off where his post-match pies featured, along with his teammates.
Submit your community story
Now in his 16th season at Syston, where younger brother Jake plays prop, Josh put in consistently great performances on the programme, as he tries to on the rugby pitch, and was really kicking it as star baker with a rhubarb, raspberry and hibiscus floral dessert in week six, as well as in the semi-final with his magnificent mille foglie.
Aged 28, Josh was being cheered on by his rugby team who watched without fail on Tuesday evenings, having enjoyed his baked treats after training, including his post-match pies which featured in week five on the programme.
“We always get a big turnout at training when they know I’m baking!” says Josh. “And now a couple of the other lads are doing some baking and bringing it in too. The first weekend filming was just surreal. I’ve watched Bake Off for years, but to actually be there in the tent, taking my place behind my bench, was just something I never imagined could happen. We met Paul and Prue for the first time just before the start of the first challenge, so that was quite daunting - making a cake for Baking Royalty!"
“The bakers were an amazing bunch and we instantly connected and formed a Bake Off family. This has since grown to the wider Bake Off family, as former bakers got in touch with me; Rahul who won in 2018 and in the New Year Special in 2020 and Chigs who reached the final in 2021. Whilst baking in the tent, it didn't really feel like a competition because the other bakers became such close friends and you just wanted everyone to do well and not see anyone go home. When it was time for someone to leave, that was the worst part of each weekend’s filming."
“The guys at the rugby club loved the Bake Off journey and they got to be part of my backstory when we were filming back in April - I had 25 of my teammates turn up to do some training in front of the camera and then I'd made sausage rolls for afterwards. I don’t think they normally watch Bake Off, but this time around they were really invested each week and at 8pm each Tuesday our group chat was poised to review how I got on the show. After getting through a few weeks of the show, I began to believe I had a chance of doing alright as I always set myself high standards, want to give 100% and just like on the rugby pitch, I wanted to give a consistent performance. I’m really proud of my journey all the way through.
“My family were amazing supporters throughout my Bake Off journey. Between filming each episode I was working at the university full time Monday to Friday, then baking every evening until passed midnight, with my family there to taste the bakes. My dad helped to prepare all of my display boards for my showstoppers, then me and my Mum would paint and decorate it. Dad and brother Jake drove me down for filming each week, then Dad and mum would pick me up so I could rest ready for another week of work and baking. Once the show started airing, the chat around me being on it went all around the University and people were stopping me to wish me luck. I’ve now got lots of baking requests coming through over the coming months.
“I love playing rugby for Syston, I've played there for years and it's like another family outside of my real family. A rugby influence of mine at Syston was Andy Ward who coached me through the age groups. As well as playing, I love watching rugby too. My family are lifelong Leicester Tigers supporters. I remember watching Martin Johnson play when I first started going to games and Geordan Murphy was always a big inspiration of mine because although he wasn’t the biggest in size, he was such a skillful player and could do things on a rugby field that no other player would even think of, let alone be able to actually pull off.
“I'm so proud of myself for making all the way to the final of Bake Off, such an amazing achievement. I've got such a fantastic array of bakes to look back on with pride, especially my showstoppers. Of course, you’re always going to be a bit disappointed not to win, but I wasn’t as grumpy as when I lose a rugby match. But at least with rugby you've always got next week to get back out there and win. It has been a really busy few months with all the practicing and filming for Bake Off, but now I can look forward to getting back out on a rugby field at weekends and taking kicks for Syston!”
For more stories like this, sign up to our monthly newsletter Touchline.
