The recession has seen a marked interest in returning to the simpler, traditional pleasures of baking. Recent research has shown that 85% of Britons have baked cakes at home and 29% say they are baking more than ever before. Recent price rises for raw ingredients including flour, sugar, milk and eggs have also contributed to the consumer's perception that shop-bought cakes and breads have become much more expensive.

Eric Lanlard, master patissier and twice winner of the prestigious Continental Patissier of the Year at the British Baking Awards, has earned himself an international reputation for superlative cakes with an impressive A-list clientele. Having trained in France, Eric moved to London where he ran the patisserie business for Albert and Michel Roux. He stayed there for 5 years before launching his own business, and now creates cakes for his clients and for his cafe-patisserie, Cake Boy, in London. In his two Channel 4 series, both titled 'Glamour Puds', Eric takes the viewer on a journey to his favourite cafes and patisseries, from Cake Boy to the illustrious patisseries of Paris. He is also author of Glamour Cakes, published by Hamlyn and runs regular baking classes.

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