'We've sent them letters': The Phelps twins on the new Weasleys, baking show and 25 years of Harry Potter

– Congratulations on the new season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking. How would you describe this season in three words?

Oliver: Three words, right? I'll do one word: еxcellent.

James: Wizards of Baking. That's the best way I can describe it. The contestants literally are wizards at what they do. They create such amazing showpieces. The flavors they can produce are ridiculous, too. I can't stress how good it is. I think the best way I can describe it is the title - Wizards of Baking. That's exactly what they are.

– What can viewers expect from you as hosts this season? Maybe more jokes or more support?

Oliver: Exactly that. Yeah, we bring a bit of lighthearted humour to it, but at the same time we are supporting all the contestants to do their best because that’s what they do. And we always see ourselves as the link between the audience and the bakers. So we’ll be there just asking them a simple question like, "What are you making there?" And then they can tell us about it, and that's the special part of our job.

– What was the biggest challenge for you filming this season?

James: I'm not sure whether "challenge" would be the word, but I was curious about how it would go because we’ve met all the contestants before, and we were wondering what they can do that we haven't already seen. We've seen some absolutely mind-blowing things already in the previous seasons, and they literally just took the bar from there. They raised it even more just with the standard they were able to come out with and the ideas as well. I think it really is going to encourage new bakers and people maybe going through culinary school to try and incorporate things that they’re doing.

– Maybe there was a cake this season that actually made you want to try to cook it for yourself?

James: There is one. It's a chocolate-based dessert that they were coming up with. And it was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in my life. It was like the ultimate chocolate bar. So I did ask a certain contestant to send me the recipe after, which he was very fortunate to do. It was amazing.

– This season, you’re joined by Duff Goldman and Sarah Mountain as judges. What do they bring to the show and what have you learned from them?

Oliver: The way they critique as well is so cool. Sarah, especially, being a pastry chef, is just a legend. And the way she’s explaining why they’re trying to find certain things in the taste and the texture and how it’s put together.

And Duff as well, being from a more showpiece background. So he's explaining to us off camera how hard that is to make and what a good job the contestants have done. They really bring a good explanation to it as well. And, a bit like us, they want these guys to do the best they can. They're not looking to fail them. They're looking for their accomplishments.

Duff Goldman and Sarah Mountain with James and Oliver (photo: show representatives)

– Millions of people in Ukraine love the Harry Potter stories and the shows like Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking bring back happy memories of the movies and keep us believing in miracles. What do you think this season can bring to Ukrainian viewers, and what would you like to wish them?

James: I think exactly that. I think that it’s a great way to escape anything that you’re worried about at the moment. And for those 42 minutes of the program, you can think, what can I like? And you imagine, "What can I like?" And you imagine, "What would I create if I were creating these bakes?" Like, "What certain food would I put in here? What would I really like to taste?"

And I really do hope that it gives everyone in Ukraine happiness to watch it. I hope that it also inspires you guys to get in the kitchen and bake with your family and your friends and create things. I think that they’re memories which you will remember for a long time.

– This season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking also celebrates 25 years since the first Harry Potter movie was released. How does it feel to you to be a part of such a huge magical world that is still so special to millions of people?

Oliver: It’s pretty crazy that it has been that long since the first film came out. But at the same time, it’s incredible to know that people from all over the world have got such a special relationship with the Harry Potter series and the characters we were able to play. And this is just another extension of that with The Baking: there's an allure to the whole Harry Potter world.

James and Oliver Phelps (trailer still)

– If Fred and George were contestants in this show, what would they create? What type of bake would they do?

James: Oh, I bet they would create something that, if you ate it, your hair would change colour or something like that would happen. There’s one of the contestants who is literally like a mad scientist. There’s one episode where he gave me a miracle berry and it got rid of all sour out of your mouth. So you literally bite into a lemon, and it tastes like an apple. Like, it is incredible that they can come up with these things. So I think Fred and George would make something like that.

– We are also going to see a new Harry Potter series soon. How does it feel knowing that someone is stepping into your shoes?

Oliver: I haven’t really given it much thought, to be honest with you. I mean, if the guys have as much fun as we did doing it, they’re in for a really, really good time. And it’ll be interesting to see how it comes out.

– Have you tried to get in touch with new actors who will play your roles (Tristan and Gabriel Harold)?

James: We've sent them a letter each, just wish them the best and all that kind of stuff. But it's not for us to go after them, you know; it’s their journey, they’re going to have fun. And, like someone else was telling me, how long has Shakespeare been going on? How many actors have played certain characters? Let them go and do what they want, but hopefully they have as much fun as we did.

– Movies inspire the sets of the show. What amazed you most about decorations this season?

Oliver: I think just being able to step into the different worlds, like the Quidditch Pitch, outside Hagrid's Hut, the Chamber of Secrets. And you see new elements which we haven’t seen before in the previous two seasons. And I think it just shows how expansive the world can be.

Where to watch the culinary show Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking

New episodes of the third season air every Sunday at 23:40 on TLC. You can watch the programme via your OTT service. If you’ve missed any episodes, you can catch up on them on HBO Max.

This season also marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the franchise's first film - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which premiered in 2001. So viewers will not only be able to see new culinary challenges, but also immerse themselves once again in the atmosphere of their favourite magical world.