Paul Hollywood shared a farewell kiss with former Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown after a night out at the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday evening.
The 51-year-old, who frequently rewards high-achieving bakers with an affirmative handshake on the Channel 4 show, appeared to fix his gaze on the 32-year-old before leaning in for a kiss.
In pictures originally published by The Sun, Paul cups the back of her head as he kisses her goodbye following a night out at the Grosvenor House Hotel event.
The stars were letting their hair down after making a glamorous red carpet appearance at the event earlier on in the evening.
Paul and Candice, who were said to be the only stars from the show at the after-party, enjoyed each other's charming company until the early hours of the morning.
A source told The Sun that the baking pair were sitting outside the bash where they sipped on champagne.
The insider also revealed Paul - who previously had an affair with his American Baking Competition's co-star Marcela Valladolid in 2013 - draped a blanket over Candice's shoulders.
Since the release of the photos, the cooking champion broke her silence as she declared the smooch was a 'goodbye peck'.
Posting on Twitter, she wrote: ‘So invisibility cloaks are real. I was so sure you were there all night too!! Stacey Solomon, Shelagh Fogarty.
‘No kisses or hugs hello or goodbye from now on - handshakes or waves only!’
Stacey saw the humorous side as she told her one million fans she had also been happy to receive a goodbye kiss from Paul.
Sharing two tearful laughing emojis, Stacey wrote: 'Well I was the the entire time no intimate kisses from where I was standing just a goodbye peck! I got one too.'
Candice added: 'Whatttt you got a goodbye peck too? Remember handshakes and waves from now! Lovely to see you beautiful lady x' (sic).
Broadcaster Shelagh Fogarty also jumped to her defence following the reports by The Sun, posting: ‘I and three others were at that table and no such ‘intimate’ thing happened. Fizz was nice tho’.’
A spokesman for both Paul and Candice said what was pictured was an ‘innocent kiss on the cheek’, and that it was ‘untrue’ to describe it as an ‘intimate kiss’.
‘Following The Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain Awards, seven of us, including Paul and Candice, were seated outside waiting for cars home. The photograph is of Paul saying goodbye to each of us,’ she said in a statement.
Of the pair, an onlooker told The Sun: 'Paul and Candice were outside together for hours and obviously had a lot of catching up. They were very relaxed, laughing and chatting.
'Paul was cracking a lot of jokes which Candice lapped up. He seemed to be paying for all the champagne.
'There were lots of people inside but Paul and Candice seemed happy enough on their own.
'It raised a few eyebrows that they were cosying up together but people were saying they were the only Bake Off stars there.'
