From Nosebleed Nougat to Puking Pastilles, the confections created by Harry Potter’s Fred and George Weasley had some nasty side effects. But James and Oliver Phelps, who played the roles in all eight films, deliver only deliciousness as hosts of the new Food Network series, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.
Outside London, cake artists and pastry chefs take over Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, home to the original sets that now inspire challenges on the reality competition show. Culinary judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef join the Phelps twins, 38, to revisit the iconic movie franchise while also indulging in spellbinding edible showpieces.
And did someone flick a wand and say, “Accio guest stars” to summon Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)? The Harry Potter alums make special appearances on the show, which premieres on Food Network on Thursday, November 14, at 8 p.m. ET.
Keep scrolling for insights from James and Oliver, who conjured up some behind-the-scenes details exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now:
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What Is it about Harry Potter that makes it a good theme for a baking show?
James: The fast majority of people have heard of Harry Potter in some way, shape or form, whether they’ve read the books, seen the movies or just heard people talking about it. Every episode of the show is based on a theme of a set. So, we film the series at Leavesden where we filmed the original movies, so what works well is that it’s literally all these top bakers and chefs imaginations from the movies coming out in edible forms.
What was it like revisiting iconic sets like Platform 9 ¾ and Diagon Alley?
Oliver: In one way, it felt like you just jumped back in time. It could have been a day later than when we finished filming. It’s amazing how when you’re in an immersive environment like that, you almost step back into that feeling of when we were filming.
James: [In 2000], our first day at Leavesden was in the Great Hall, when all the first-years walk in and look around, amazed. When the bakers go into the Great Hall for the first time, they’re literally doing that reaction. That was really fun.
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Are there any secret nods or details in the set that Potterheads can look out for?
Oliver: There’s so many different nods to certain elements of the Wizarding World in there. If you look very carefully, there’s some subtle nods to the chocolate frog boxes or a quidditch pitch in the background. No doubt that the viewers will really enjoy watching it and just being thrown back into the Wizarding World.
Did the bakers wow your culinary judges, Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef?
James: The flavors they came out with were incredible. One contestant made a mango caramel to go inside the bake. Another from Mexico brought Mexican flavor into her bake — a completely new way of looking at it, but it worked.
What are you most excited for Potterheads to see?
James: I’m most excited to see [what the audience thinks] of the ideas that the contestants have come up with for each week. Whether that’s exactly what they would do, or it gets them thinking, “I would’ve done this instead.” Then, maybe they can go and create it themselves as well.
Oliver: I’m looking forward to seeing James try to say “molecular gastronomy.”
James: I hope they edited that.
With reporting by Aileen Bergin
