A GROUP of bakers had their cake and ate it — but only once the cameras had stopped rolling.

Rachel McGrath, from Horwich, was invited to appear in a documentary being filmed by food writer and presenter Nigel Slater.

Along with 15 fellow Clandestine Cake Club leaders, they were surrounded by a host of tasty treats, which had to remain untouched while they told the programme maker about their love for all things sponge, pudding, pie and tiered.

The food blogger, who runs Bolton’s club which meets monthly at a secret location, said: “It was torturous, because we were filming, we couldn’t cut any of the cakes.” She had made her speciality — raspberry bakewell bundt cake — while Nigel brought a passion fruit drizzle cake for the group to try after several hours filming.

The food lover, who blogs under the name DollyBakes, said: “Lynn Hill, who is the founder of the Clandestine Cake Club, invited some of the cake club organisers to be part of a very special cake club.

“We met in Leeds, which was where cake club started. There was myself representing Bolton.

“We were all invited to meet Nigel who is doing a documentary for BBC Four, which will be on about December time, depending on when the magic happens.

“He was a really nice fella.

“He was really interested in talking to us all.

“None of it felt forced, he brought a cake with him as well.”

Bolton’s Clandestine Cake Club has been running for just over two years with dozens of members making new friends and learning new skills while enjoying a delicious slice of cake or two.

The as yet untitled cake programme follows on from one which aired on BBC Four earlier this year, Nigel Slater's Great British Biscuit, which saw him ask what makes Britain such a nation of ardent biscuit eaters.

The next cake club in Bolton will meet on May 31 and will have the theme of Disney, visit clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/groups/bolton.