{"id":413771,"date":"2026-02-08T00:55:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T00:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/413771\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T00:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T00:55:13","slug":"paul-hollywood-still-cant-fly-his-400000-helicopter-that-caused-row-with-neighbours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/413771\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Hollywood still can’t fly his \u00a3400,000 helicopter that caused row with neighbours"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tPaul Hollywood is still learning to fly his flashy helicopter (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

Paul Hollywood<\/a> reportedly found himself at the centre of a row with his neighbours over his \u00a3400,000 helicopter \u2013 that he can\u2019t fly.<\/p>\n

The Great British Bake Off<\/a> judge was seen at the helm of his chopper<\/a> this weekend after fed-up locals are said to have complained about him landing it in his back garden in Kent.<\/p>\n

Paul, 59, was ultimately forced to shift it to a nearby aerodrome in January after it remained at his home throughout last summer while he learned to fly.<\/p>\n

After almost two years, however, the chef is still training.<\/p>\n

Photos capture the TV personality<\/a> wearing a branded jacket from his helicopter flying school, sitting in the cockpit of his Robinson R44 with an instructor beside him as he flies over Kent.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on The Great British Bake Off\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n

Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n

According to insiders, people usually require around 45 hours of training to qualify for their pilot\u2019s license, but Paul has been at it for 20 months.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tHe was seen practising this weekend in Kent (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tPaul has been training for almost two years (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

\u2018Most people would\u2019ve been signed off ages ago, but Paul\u2019s still got the stabilisers on,\u2019 said a source.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, he looked in good spirits and appeared confident while taking charge.<\/p>\n

It looks like the baker is making the most of his downtime ahead of the new Bake Off series, where it\u2019ll be all change in the famous tent.<\/p>\n

While Alison Hammond<\/a> and Noel Fielding<\/a> will return as hosts with long-standing judge Paul, Dame Prue Leith<\/a> will no longer be a fixture.<\/p>\n

Dame Prue announced last month that she was bowing out<\/a>, with Nigella Lawson later confirmed as her replacement<\/a>. She\u2019ll accompany Paul in judging the contestants\u2019 technical and showstopping creations.<\/p>\n

South Africa-born TV legend Dame Prue took over the high-profile judging role from Dame Mary Berry<\/a> in 2017 when Bake Off moved from the BBC<\/a> to Channel 4<\/a>, at which point presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins also departed.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tThe Bake Off judge wore a jacket from his flying school (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tHe was forced to move the chopper after a row with neighbours earlier this year (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tStill, he looked in good spirits (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"6
\n\t\tHere\u2019s hoping he\u2019ll have his pilot\u2019s licence soon (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap)<\/p>\n

Throughout her stint, Dame Prue has judged over 400 challenges but said she felt this was the \u2018right time\u2019 to dip out.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued in January, she added that there\u2019s \u2018so much [she\u2019d] like to do\u2019 with her spare time, especially when it comes to spending summers in her garden.<\/p>\n

Ahead of Nigella\u2019s announcement, she also said: \u2018Whoever joins the team, I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.\u2019<\/p>\n

She later gave the 66-year-old \u2013 who declared that she was \u2018honoured\u2019 to be joining<\/a> the Bake Off family \u2013 her full blessing, \u2018thrilled\u2019 that she was to have the experience as she did.<\/p>\n

\u2018She\u2019s sassy, fun, and she knows her onions \u2014 and her croissants, cake, and crumble,\u2019 added the broadcaster.<\/p>\n

As for Paul, he\u2019s a Bake Off staple, having been a regular judge since 2010, with his culinary career taking him all over the world in the years since, including to the States to judge\u00a0The Great American Baking Show.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"MANDATORY
\n\t\tIt\u2019ll be all change on the new series of Bake Off, as Dame Prue Leith has stepped down (Picture: Channel 4\/Love Productions\/Mark Bourdillon via PA Wire)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Editorial
\n\t\tNigella Lawson will replace her, joining Paul in the iconic tent (Picture: Ken McKay\/ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Speaking previously about his love for the show, he called it a \u2018real treat\u2019 of a job, saying he\u2019s had the \u2018time of [his] life\u2019 over the years, \u2018meeting some incredible bakers\u2019.<\/p>\n

Asked what the worst part of his role is, to the sound of tiny violins, Paul told Milk Street<\/a>: \u2018When you\u2019re forced to eat 36 bites of something that\u2019s extremely sweet. Even though it sounds amazing. You\u2019re filling yourself, you feel bloated; it\u2019s not a very nice experience.\u2019<\/p>\n

Upon learning that Dame Prue would be leaving his side, Paul shared a sweet social media post, writing alongside a snap of them together: \u2018You\u2019re the best Prue! \u2764\ufe0f\u00a0\u2018<\/p>\n

But never fear, because baking queen Dame Mary reckons he and Nigella will \u2018get on like a house on fire\u2019, recently telling Radio Times<\/a> how excited she is for the programme to have a \u2018new flavour\u2019.<\/p>\n

Paul will next step inside the tent when the Celebrity Bake Off returns<\/a> in spring, with renowned pastry chef Cherish Finden joining as a judge while Paul (possibly) dishes out some handshakes.<\/p>\n

The starry lineup includes Molly-Mae Hague, Sam Thompson, JoJo Siwa, Mark Wright, and Scott Mills.<\/p>\n

Reps for Paul Hollywood have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Your heart will break watching Rachel McAdams find out Prue Leith is leaving Bake Off<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Nigella Lawson \u2018top contender\u2019 to replace Prue Leith on Bake Off \u2013 but fans have concerns<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Strictly finalist John Whaite hospitalised after being run over by car<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/p>\n

\t\t\tComments
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Paul Hollywood is still learning to fly his flashy helicopter (Picture: Click News and Media\/@ashthepap) Paul Hollywood reportedly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413772,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[6491,96,31084,3334,52218,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-413771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-paul-hollywood","tag-showbiz","tag-the-great-british-bake-off","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/413772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=413771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=413771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}