Talking Cakes with Peter Bakes
★★★★☆ Tasty treat
Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33): Thur 31 July – Sat 23 Aug 2025
Review by Marion Geoffray
Peter Sawkins is best known for being the youngest and the first (and so far only!) Scottish winner of The Great British Bake Off, back in 2020. He may be no stranger to TV entertainment, but this year it’s on a Pleasance Courtyard stage that he debuts his live variety/talk show, Talking Cakes with Peter Bakes, combining his two passions: good chats and good cakes.
In the Courtyard Bar — a venue layered with personal significance for the host who grew up in Edinburgh — Peter welcomes a different celebrity guest from the worlds of entertainment or sports to each show. At his DIY baking station they talk about their lives and their baking interests.
Judy Murray chats to Peter Sawkins on the set of Talking Cakes with Peter Bakes. Pic: Greg McEwan
As comfortable in front of a live audience as he is on camera, Sawkins is equally as cool, calm, and collected, whether holding a whisk or cue cards. He treats his guests to lively banter and delicious homemade bakes. Which, alas, are not shared with the audience!
On the occasion of Æ’s visit, none other than Scottish icon Judy Murray takes to the stage and dons the apron.
It turns out there are quite a few similarities between baking and sport: competitiveness, stamina, hours of training to reach the top, and the sweet taste of victory. Sawkins, a keen athlete himself, leads the interview with warmth, generosity, and a wealth of interesting questions. Judy, who may have found a second calling in stand-up comedy, is chatty, funny, and a natural storyteller.
light audience interaction
There’s some light audience interaction and participation, offering a chance to showcase your baking knowledge and competitive spirit — though it’s all good sport.
Not too sweet, and not too tart either, this is a balanced and wholesome mix of patter and kitchen flair. You could easily imagine the concept working as a live television show. GBBO fans, sports enthusiasts and casual punters alike will find much to enjoy in this charming performance.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Pleasance Courtyard (Cabaret Bar), 60 Pleasance Pleasance EH8 9TJ (Venue 33).
Thur 31 July – Sat 23 August 2025.
Thurs – Sat (Not 21): 11.50am.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
Peter Sawkins website: peterbakes.co.uk
Facebook: @Peter-Bakes
Instagram: @peter_bakes
Linktree: @peter_bakes
*affiliate link.
Peter Sawkins and Eilidh Doyle in a show earlier in the run. Pic: Emily Simpson.
ENDS
