How a creative illusion cake commission for the BBC, went on to feature in the Cornish Times and BBC Cornwall.
Back in August 2025, I received an email from Owl Power TV, the production company behind the popular Gone Fishing TV show, for their Christmas special, filmed across Devon and Cornwall for the BBC. They wanted me to create an illusion cake that would trick one of the presenters when they cut into it — a challenge I couldn’t resist, and I replied with a big YES!
The Brief - How the Turkey was chosen
At first, I thought they might want a ‘fish’ illusion cake — a design on my website that often fools people into thinking it’s real.
However, the concept for the cake was for it to be used in their Christmas special, and for it to be used to play a prank on one of the show’s presenters.
The first idea they mentioned was a Christmas pudding, which is certainly a Christmas item, but I felt a more suitable item might be a cheese board, or perhaps a roast Christmas dinner. Something savoury, but is actually made from cake and icing.
I sent examples of a ‘cheese board’ and ‘roast turkey’ I’d found as inspiration, as well as a few illusion cakes I had made.
After discussion, they decided on the roast turkey, with perhaps a few roast potatoes and peas & carrots. I’d already decided this cake was going to be a real showstopper, so I really wanted to create as much detail and illusion as possible. I began to plan the design.
Craftsmanship & Detail
Making any cake where you have to carve the shape to look like something other than a round or square cake takes experience, and it is also a real challenge. This is why I love creating bespoke cakes; with every commission, there is the opportunity to push your skills and create something entirely new.
I worked from lots of photographs of roast turkeys, which were pinned all over my studio wall! I wanted to make sure the shape and size looked correct.
Once I’d created the basic shape, I built layers of colour to add depth and detail to bring the roasted bird to life, finishing with the leg bones poking from each turkey leg.
Roast potatoes were created from chunks of cake, iced and coloured to create those deep golden colours of a roasted spud.
For the peas and carrots, I knew the carrots would need extra detail to convince the eye they weren’t just orange chunks of icing. Once I had hand-cut each carrot ‘round’, I used edible colours and dusts to add the carrot centres and the tiny lines you see on a cooked carrot (take a look next time you chop one up!).
The cake was presented on a large vintage platter, and a simple serving dish for the potatoes. This also gave me a really strong base for the cake!
Every illusion cake is an opportunity to push the limits of cake design, and this turkey cake was no exception. Each commission is bespoke, allowing me to create something unique, memorable and, of course, delicious.
The Reaction
We had arranged for me to deliver the cake to Mousehole on the morning of the final day of filming. It was a gorgeous sunny day in October, so I had a lovely drive down into Cornwall from my studio in southeast Cornwall.
I arrived at the hotel where the production team were staying, and met them in the dining room. They were really excited to see the cake, so I showed them the roast potatoes first, saving the turkey for the real surprise.
All of the crew came across to look, some took a few photos and had questions; the most common one I get asked is ‘how do you do that?’, which makes me feel happy, as they appreciate the work and cannot understand how it can look so real.
When asked for a quote by BBC Cornwall News, a member of the production team at Owl Power TV had this to say: “Niki’s fabulous turkey cake exceeded all our expectations – we couldn’t believe we were looking at a cake when we opened the box! Such clever and detailed work. It was very tasty too, and was polished off by all in no time”.
The best compliment I could ask for was the look on their faces when I opened the box. Everyone instinctively takes a step closer to really examine the detail!
Media Attention & Coverage
Following the filming of the Gone Fishing Christmas Special, the cake received attention from local media. It was featured online by Cornish Stuff and in both the print and online editions of the Cornish Times. The story will also appear on BBC Cornwall’s website, sharing this creative commission with a wider audience across the South West.
Seeing my bespoke cake featured on TV and in the media has been an incredible experience. Every bespoke commission is an opportunity to create something memorable and share it with a wider audience, whether on TV, in print, or online.
Why Creative Cakes Matter
I love creating statement cakes. They can be such an important part of your celebration, helping to tell your story or create a memorable experience for your guests.
A showstopper cake isn’t just for the photos either — it has to taste amazing too. And yes, that does mean you should cut it!
Are you looking for a showstopper? A real wow factor at your event? Take a look at my portfolio, and for my most up-to-date work, visit my Instagram @nikilowecakedesign.
Come challenge me… what crazy ideas do you have for a cake?
