Noel Fielding "pinched" Paul Hollywood's butt.

The new 'Great British Bake Off' host is good friends with former presenter Mel Giedroyc and, because she misses the judge and the crew on the show, he was only too happy to pick up where she left off and flirt with the bread expert.

Noel said: "I was doing 'Taskmaster' with Mel and I'm good friends with her. She kept saying, 'What are you doing next? And I wasn't allowed to say anything.'

"Mel was very supportive [when she found out] and said, 'Oooh I feel I should pass you some sort of baton or baguette.' She said it's a lovely job - there's lots of cake, lots of time to sit int he sun in a deckchair, I'll have a blast.

"Yesterday she sent me a text and said, 'Ah I miss everyone. Pinch Paul on the bum for me.' [Did I?] Yeah, obviously."

The 44-year-old comic - who is fronting the show with Sandi Toksvig - was delighted to discover Paul is not as "scary" as he seems on screen, but can't help getting "hypnotised" by his striking blue eyes.

He said: "Paul is so welcoming. Considering he's the only original member, he's been so open.

"I've only known him from watching the show and you think he might be a bit scary but he's the absolute opposite, he's so lovely.

"You get hypnotised by his beautiful eyes. I sort of drift off, wake up, and I'm ironing his shirt."

And he and Sandi are pleased Paul has done all he can to help them and new judge Prue Leith to settle in.

Noel said: "The thing about Paul is he knows the show so well, it's a brilliant balance. And he hasn't once told us what to do. He's always there if you're feeling a bit stressed and you don't know how to do something.

"He'll give advice, which is amazing, as it's his show He could just say, 'No, you're not doing that'.

Sandi added to heat magazine: "It's been so wonderful."