Michael Ball

Michael, 51, lives with his girlfriend of 24 years Cathy McGowan (former presenter of Ready Steady Cook). Michael is a British stage actor, singer, radio presenter and television personality. He’s a fan of Great British Bake Off and is taking the competition very seriously.

He is best known for his song Love Changes Everything which reached number 2 in the UK charts in 1989.

His musical theatre roles include Les Miserables, Aspects of Love and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Most recently, in 2012, he played the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Barber of Fleet Street (who famously murdered patrons to provide pie fillings for partner in crime Mrs Lovett). He earned another Olivier award for this role.

Michael currently presents a weekly BBC Radio 2 show Sunday Night with Michael Ball.

• Michael’s earliest baking memories are of his Gran making Welsh cakes in her tiny scullery kitchen (he’s half Welsh, or Wenglish as Michael calls it). Back then, he took no interest in his Gran’s baking methods and was only hanging around till it was time to lick the spoon.

• Says he can’t do pastry due to his hot hands so he’s worried this will come up in the technical. Michael’s other worry is that the decoration will let him down as he’s apparently “crap at presentation”.

• Michael is a big fan of GBBO which he calls his guilty pleasure. Watching it inspired him to try a “Vicky Sponge” which has since become his go-to (and only) bake and the one he says he’s truly mastered.

• Michael says he feels sick with worry at the prospect of the Bake off. He’s much more nervous about this than going on stage because “I know what I’m doing on stage”.

• Michael usually loves being in the kitchen as it relaxes him but suspects the Bake Off will be quite the opposite…

• This is a fitting way for Michael to contribute to Sports Relief as he’s spent his life avoiding any form of sport. The only times he’s watched sport was during the Olympics (which he became obsessed with), when Tim Henman used to play, when Andy Murray plays internationally and the odd bit of rugby. His closest connection with sport is that he went to the same school as Tom Daley and so he’s toyed with the idea of making his sporting heroes themed layer showstopper cake in the shape of Tom’s Speedos.