🍰 The Champ and Contender Podcast: Liam Charles on Baking Fame, British Bake Off & More! 🎂 In this episode of The Champ and Contender Podcast, hosts Joseph J. Jones and Fabian Collymore sit down with special guest Liam Charles, best known for his time on The Great British Bake Off and as a presenter on Bake Off: The Professionals. 👨‍🍳 From a 16-year-old with a sweet tooth to becoming one of the UK’s most loved bakers, authors, and TV personalities, Liam shares his inspiring story filled with creativity, humour, and honesty. 💬 Expect plenty of laughs, behind-the-scenes Bake Off stories, and real talk about balancing artistic passion with technical precision, the therapeutic side of baking, and his journey in the spotlight. Plus, don’t miss our fun “Shot Stopper” game where Liam reveals his favourite bakes and guilty pleasures! 🎧 Whether you’re a baking enthusiast, a Bake Off superfan, or simply love hearing genuine, inspiring conversations — this one’s for you!

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to The Champ and Contender Podcast

00:18 – Introducing Today’s Guest: Liam Charles

01:10 – Liam’s Journey into Baking

02:38 – School Days and Early Baking Ventures

06:59 – The Great British Bake Off Experience

10:32 – Life After Bake Off

22:15 – Hosting Bake Off: The Professionals

27:23 – Personal Reflections and Future Plans

37:25 – The Passion for Trainers and Baking

38:12 – Combining Passions: Trainers and Cakes

38:33 – Customizing Trainers and Monthly Baking Videos

39:09 – The Purpose Behind Baking

39:40 – Sharing Bakes and Social Media

40:26 – Shot Stopper Game: TV Shows and Bakes

47:21 – Favourite British Desserts

50:27 – Dealing with Allergies in Baking

53:38 – Staying Grounded and Favourite Hangouts

55:45 – Football Talk: United and Transfers

01:02:18 – Celebrity Interactions and Baking for Stars

01:04:36 – Final Quiz: Last Orders

01:09:26 – Advice for Aspiring Bakers

01:10:59 – Conclusion and Farewell

✨ Follow Us on Socials 📺 YouTube: @TheChampAndContenderPodcast 📸 Instagram: @fabsfitnessuk | @josephjjones

🎙️ Interview with Dean Franklin — Winner of The Apprentice 2025 | Champ and Contender Podcast

In this episode of The Champ and Contender Podcast, hosts Joseph J. Jones and Fabian Collymore sit down with Dean Franklin, the winner of The Apprentice 2025 🏆 From grafting in air conditioning to standing in the boardroom with Lord Alan Sugar, Dean breaks down his full journey — the grind, the mindset, and the madness behind winning one of the UK’s toughest business shows 💼🔥 He opens up about: 💨 Starting DL Air Conditioning from scratch during lockdown 💡 Lessons learned from The Apprentice boardroom 🤝 Working with Alan Sugar 🧠 Entrepreneur tips for anyone chasing success 🤣 Plus — the fan-favourite Shot Stopper game returns with a business twist: Steve Jobs vs Elon Musk, Walt Disney vs Bill Gates, and more! Real talk, pure banter, and serious insight into what it actually takes to win The Apprentice and build your own business empire 👊

⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Champ and Contender Podcast

00:27 – Introducing Dean Franklin: The Apprentice Winner

01:11 – Dean’s Journey into Air Conditioning

02:18 – Starting a Business During Lockdown

03:42 – The Apprentice Experience

05:33 – Challenges and Triumphs on The Apprentice

06:40 – Life After The Apprentice

16:14 – Dean’s Early Business Ventures

27:16 – The Essex Identity and Accents

32:03 – A Game of Shot Stopper

32:29 – Boxing and Entrepreneurs

32:54 – Steve Jobs vs Elon Musk

35:58 – Steve Jobs vs Jeff Bezos

36:25 – Alan Sugar vs Henry Ford

40:06 – Walt Disney vs Bill Gates

43:44 – Life After The Apprentice

57:46 – Final Thoughts and Advice

✨ Follow Us on Socials

📺 YouTube: @TheChampAndContenderPodcast

📸 Instagram: @fabsfitnessuk | @josephjjones

In this episode of The Champ and Contender Podcast 🎙️, hosts Joseph J. Jones and Fabian Collymore sit down with former UFC fighter and current Misfits boxer Darren Stewart 🦁. Darren takes us through his 21-year fighting journey — starting with TaeKwonDo 🥋, moving into MMA 💥, and now focusing on boxing 🥊. He opens up about the physical and mental challenges, injuries, and his biggest fights — including his recent Misfits Boxing bout with Darren Till 🇬🇧. He also gets real about the behind-the-scenes struggles fighters face: management issues, financial pressure, sponsorship problems, and why having the right support team is everything 🙌. This is a raw and honest insight into the life of a true fighter 🔥.

👉 Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to The Champ and Contender Podcast

00:36 Introducing Darren Stewart: From MMA to Boxing

01:29 Darren’s Transition to Boxing

02:52 Challenges and Reflections on Fighting

11:02 The MMA vs. Boxing Debate

19:13 Darren’s UFC Journey

27:13 A Shocking Phone Call

28:13 The Tragic Incident

28:40 Fighting Through Grief

28:45 UFC Career Challenges

29:40 Financial Struggles

32:31 Seeking Help and Support

33:03 Sponsorship and Debt Issues

34:28 Reflecting on Career Choices

40:46 Mental and Physical Strain

51:13 Future Plans and Aspirations

52:07 Managerial Insights and Fighter’s Journey

52:38 Dana White and UFC Management 5

4:26 Drinking Game: Shots Stopper 🍻

54:56 Catching Up on Life and Career Reflections

55:27 Fighter Comparisons and Stories

01:04:00 Final Thoughts and Advice for Young Fighters 👊

📌 Follow the podcast:

🎥 YouTube: @TheChampAndContenderPodcast

📸 Instagram: @TheChampAndContenderPodcast

🐦 Twitter/X: @ChampContender

📌 Follow the hosts: @JosephJJones @FabsFitnessUK

📌 Follow Darren Stewart: IG: @DarrenStewartMMA

Twitter/X: @Darren_MMA

#DarrenStewart #DarrenTill #MisfitsBoxing #UFC #MMA #Boxing #FightTalk #TheChampAndContenderPodcast #CombatSports