David Schwimmer's Paul Hollywood Starstruck Handshake Is All Of Us
David Schwimmer may be a television star, but his experience on "Great British Bake Off" was probably enough to bring even an A-lister like George Clooney to their knees. Schwimmer isn't a chef or baker by any means, but the actor recently participated in the GBBO "Stand Up To Cancer" special for a tear-jerking reason. He competed in honor of his grandmother and his daughter's grandmother — both of whom died of cancer — as well as his sister, who is a cancer survivor. And while raising awareness and money for cancer research is a wonderful thing on its own, Schwimmer experienced something that put his appearance on the show over the edge.
He got a Hollywood Handshake. Paul Hollywood is known to only give his signature handshake to bakers who truly blow him away with their skill. Schwimmer had the unenviable task of preparing a savory pastry for the GBBO judges and doubled down on the challenge by adding tofu to the filling of his vegetarian curry pot pie. But after one bite, Hollywood extended his hand to Schwimmer, who couldn't believe it. "No...No, come on," he said, as the shake took place. "I've never had tofu that I've enjoyed before," Hollywood explained (via TikTok).
@britishbakeoff There's something in our eye 🥹 #GBBO
The praise was mutual
David Schwimmer seemed honestly blown away when he got one of Paul Hollywood's famous handshakes on GBBO. "Made my year. I'm really chuffed, as you guys say," he said to the judges. "I know how special that is and I can't wait to tell my daughter." But Schwimmer wasn't the only one starstruck the day he competed. It turns out Hollywood is a big fan of Schwimmer, too. "Friends," the show which made Schwimmer a household name, is still extremely popular in the U.K., and as of 2019 was even the favorite show of viewers aged 5-16 in the country (via BBC).
Hollywood told The Mirror, "I was like 'It's David Schwimmer, he's here, he's here.'" The star tried to keep it cool. "I wandered up, pretended I wasn't that bothered and he was like, 'Oh hiya guys, how are you doing?' And I had to let it out." Co-judge Prue Leith also said that Schwimmer was clearly taking the competition seriously, and not just because of the worthy cause. And it would seem that she's right — he said that not only is he a fan, but his friends and family all are, too. We can only imagine how happy and excited — or should we say chuffed? — they were to see Schwimmer get his Hollywood Handshake.