Interview With Brighton's Great British Bake-Off Star Janusz

Brighton's Janusz Domagala is back in Great British Bake-off action this evening (Tuesday).

Contestants will take on Bread Week tonight on Channel 4, in a bid to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Lieth.

We spoke to Janusz about his time on the show.

Hi Janusz, for people who don’t know your backstory, how did you first become interested in baking?

My mother always used to bake on a Saturday — be it an apple pie, a cheesecake or something else — so it became a tradition which I carried on with my best friend when we moved to Uni.

When I moved to England, I stopped baking for a couple of year, but my boyfriend bought me a kitchen and that totally changed my life!

You won the star baker during cake week – what did that mean to you?

Great British Bake-off (c)

I was really confident with cakes. I love cake – I love baking cake and I love eating cake!

I’ve never felt so happy in my life because it was so important to me. Going into the Bake-off tent, my initial thought was ‘please don’t go home on the Cake Week.’

As you've mentioned, your mother was a major inspiration with your baking.

Yes, my showstopper was inspired by the flat I used to live in when I was young.

It was a very sad block of flats, very communistic, not colourful at all, but you could always tell my mother’s balcony from the flowers she put out.

Do you feel like you’re representing Brighton and Sussex with your efforts?

Yes, definitely!

I was stopped in the street a couple of times and people were actually cheering me and saying they’re really happy I’m representing Brighton and Sussex!

Does that feel strange?

It feels unusual but really special.

The first time I was stopped, a lady in Waitrose took a photo with me, and I had to turn around because I had tears in my eyes.

I’m not an emotional person, but it was a really special moment.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I think I’d go for a very heavy chocolate cake — something that’s really rich and really heavy! My sweet-tooth is my weakness.

What are your favourite places to eat in Brighton?

For breakfast there is a bakery on Queen’s Road called Julian Plumart, it has amazing pastries and delicious coffee.

When it comes to eating out I’d give a big shout out to Giggling Squid — a Thai inspired menu with plenty of squid on offer.

Do you ever cook special meals for your sausage dog, Nigel?

I’ll cook an unseasoned steak for him and cut it into really small pieces for a treat. Sometimes he has a mini-roast as well on a Sunday!

You’re a fan of old movie memorabilia – what sort of things do you own?

I own an ‘x’ from the Godzilla movie, a flower from the Jumanji movie and a piece of the Goonies house!

What would be your dream prop to own?

A suit from the Alien movie but that’s really expensive so it might not be possible unless I sell both kidneys!

Do you think you’ll open a bakery of your own one day?

I went to Bake Off with the hope of not going home first, now it’s finished I am just grateful for whatever comes my way – I think the best thing in life is not to assume what’s going to come, just take opportunities when they come and be grateful for them.

Do you think you’ll do more television work with your big personality?

I never realised I had a ‘big personality’ until I stepped into the Bake Off tent, and apparently everyone said ‘Wow’. Whatever comes my way I’ll be happy now!