UWS graduate stars in The Great Australian Bake Off

From spending his days studying on the Parramatta campus to competing in a nationally broadcast TV cooking competition, Brendan Garlick’s life has taken an unexpected turn. The recent Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Advanced Business Leadership and Hospitality Management) graduate is a contestant on Channel Nine’s new cooking competition, The Great Australian Bake Off.

At 21, Brendan is the youngest of the 10 contestants on the show, which sees them bake everything from pastries and biscuits to bread, pies, cakes and tarts. A self-confessed lover of all things sweet, Brendan enjoys baking and challenging himself, so decided to apply to be on The Great Australian Bake Off to show what he can do and to have some fun.

“I sent my application back in August 2012, after finding out about the program on Twitter,” says Brendan. “It all moved quite quickly after that – I was asked to attend an audition in Sydney, where I needed to prove my skills in baking, and then I attended another Melbourne audition that focused on how I performed in front of the camera.”

Spending 12- to 15-hour days on set is a far cry from Brendan’s usual days spent at uni doing assignments or at his part-time job working in events. “The experience was absolutely amazing, surreal and at times extremely exhausting,” says Brendan. “I still cannot believe how lucky I am to have been involved. I had a tonne of fun with both the cast and crew, some of whom will be friends for life.”

Brendan learned a lot during his time on The Great Australian Bake Off and says he would like to work in the food industry as a recipe developer or food stylist. “I am sure I will end up starting a business or venture of some description, for which my degree and studies will prove invaluable,” says Brendan. “I have met many lecturers and peers who I am sure will support me along the way. At the moment I am looking at ways to ensure young people learn how to cook. It is a skill that is being lost, yet is invaluable for later in life and promotes good health.”

Hosted by Shane Jacobsen and Anna Gare, The Great Australian Bake Off is a local version of a popular TV format that began on BBC TWO in the United Kingdom in 2012. Adaptations have been created in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Norway and France, while a US version is being produced.

Want to find out more about Brendan and his baking journey? You can follow Brendan on Facebook (opens in a new window).