Viewers and legions of Harry Potter fans are in for a treat as Food Network’s Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking returns for a magical new chapter this holiday season. Premiering Saturday, 6 December at 14:00 CAT on Food Network (DStv Channel 175), Chapter Two will feature even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime.
Capitalising on the enduring love for Harry Potter, a global phenomenon that continues to captivate people of all ages around the world, the groundbreaking series blends legendary storytelling and fantastical edible creations in a competition that had audiences on the edge of their seats last year.
In its debut season, the series drew 40% more viewers compared to the channel average¹ and saw viewership spike by 172% on Christmas Day², cementing the episode as a festive favourite.
Returning hosts James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) bring their charm, humour and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and are joined by esteemed culinary judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef, who bring their discerning palates and high expectations to the table. Across the six-episode season, special guests Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Afshan Azad (Padma Patil) and Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan) help evaluate the competitors’ showpieces as they share their own stories from the films.
Reflecting on the series’ evolution, James Phelps shared, “We knew what to expect going into season two, and the standard just keeps getting higher and higher through this season as well.” His twin brother Oliver added, “Right off the bat, we see some absolutely incredible desserts this time around. One team made a smoked chocolate patisserie that was just unbelievably cool.”
In the two-hour premiere, eight teams of two start their journey in The Great Hall, where the Sorting Hat sorts them into one of the four Hogwarts houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The first challenge is to craft captivating, edible showpieces inspired by moments from the Harry Potter series and each team’s respective Hogwarts house. Week to week, the teams face a new task for which they must design creations that deliver on taste, creativity and visual spectacle, and this season, winning challenges can yield an advantage for a team in the next episode, or the chance to bestow an impediment to others.
The series was once again shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden including amidst the backdrop of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, on some of the original sets where Harry Potter’s journey was brought to life on screen, including such famed locations as Platform 9¾, The Great Hall, and Diagon Alley, as well as The Potions Room, Privet Drive, the Destroyed Gringotts Bank and the triple-decker Knight Bus. “It felt like we’d been teleported back to our Potter days,” said Oliver. “It was quite a nostalgic thing to be part of, it’s really awesome to relive that.”
“Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking brings together perfectly the magic of Harry Potter with the exquisite culinary artistry that exemplifies why Food Network is a holiday destination for viewers each year,” said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. “The success of season one shows the magic that can happen when collaborating across divisions as we did with Warner Horizon in marrying an iconic property with a fan-favourite genre. The next chapter of this delicious competition promises to bring even more joy to fans this holiday season.”
Teams competing are: Alex Madrigal (Playa Del Carmen, Mexico) and Jenny Chambers (Salisbury, UK), Andy Ortega (Yonkers, NY) and Stefan Rose (Yorkshire, UK), Angel Figueroa (Denver, CO) and Rui Mota (Lisbon, Portugal), Caitlin Taylor (Bowie, MD) and Jaleesa Mason (Bloomfield, NJ), Heather Tocco (Rochester, MI) and Kate Sigel (Nashville, TN), Marj Santaromana (Richmond, VA) and Sarah Arnold (Charleston, SC), Molly Robbins (Lancashire, UK) and Priya Winsor (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada), and Jujhar Mann (Surrey, BC, Canada) and Katie Bonzer (Orlando, FL).
A group of lucky fans will have the opportunity to attend the grand finale, where the remaining teams must make a showpiece that celebrates the Goblet of Fire in a nod to the 20th anniversary of the fourth film in the series. In the end, one victorious team will take home the trophy and be crowned the Wizards of Baking.
Food Network Africa had the opportunity to chat with James and Oliver Phelps to get some insight into Chapter Two. Reflecting on the show’s growing international fan base, Oliver shared, “It’s been amazing speaking to people all over the world who watch the show and hearing how they ask each other, ‘What would you make?’ It really connects people through creativity and culture.” James added with a laugh, “I think someone should definitely make a biltong-shaped cake – that would be brilliant!”
