A SWEET expert has recreated the treats of Christmas past for a new television programme.

Andy Baxendale, known throughout the industry as The Sweet Consultant, will star in BBC 2's The Sweet Makers At Christmas at 9pm tomorrow. 

He will use original recipes and equipment to whip up the festive bestsellers of Christmases past — from the Georgian and Victorian eras, before moving on to the 1920s. 

Mr Baxendale, who used to work for Stockleys Sweets and Glisten (Big Bear) in Blackburn, said: "It's been brilliant. 

"We were on The One Show last night. I made some sugar mice and they tried them live on air."

The Christmas special comes after the success of The Sweet Makers, screened earlier this year. 

Mr Baxendale will be joined by two chocolatiers and a cake decorator, guided by food historian Dr Annie Gray and social historian Emma Dabiri.

They will decorate a series of exquisite Twelfth Cakes, affordable only to Georgian’s wealthy elite; create Queen Victoria’s favoured Boar’s Head cake and explore the launch of chocolate novelties in the 1920s.

Mr Baxendale has 23 years’ experience in the confectionery industry and is a former product development manager for Chewits, with a Master’s of Science in Advanced Food Manufacture.

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Drawing on his expertise, he has compiled a list of the top 10 sweets and chocolates people tuck into at Christmas. 

Mr Baxendale, who runs a sweet factory in Wigan, said: "Everyone develops a sweet tooth at Christmas and, for some people, the festive period just isn’t the same without certain chocolates and sweets, some of which they will have enjoyed each year since they were children."

Andy Baxendale's top 10 sweets and chocolates for Christmas

1. Ferrero Rocher: You know it’s Christmas when these are handed out! Individually wrapped, each one is like a little gift. If it’s good enough for the Ambassador then it’s good enough for everyone else
2. After Eights: Smooth, dark and minty, one is not enough — I only feel satisfied after eight!
3. Candy Canes: You know it’s Christmas when you spot these “sticky” treats.
4. Edible tree decorations/advent calendar treats: Perfect for sneaking them out of the wrapper when nobody’s looking, so it looks like they’re still there.
5. Quality Street (original selection): My childhood taste of Christmas. The selection now is nowhere near as good — more of a Quality Lane.
6. Sugared Almonds: Perfect for sucking the sugar from the outside then leaving the almonds for your gran!
7. Orange and lemon jelly slices: Sweet, sticky, sugary citrus treats. Another childhood memory for many people.
8. Coffee creams: Probably the most polarising treat of all — I can’t understand why they took them out of the chocolate selections. If you like them then there are nearly always some left in the box.
9. Terry’s Chocolate Orange: Another segmented taste of Christmas — sadly not made in York any longer.
10. Matchmakers: Available in several different flavours — mint was my favourite — full of sugar crystals for a lovely texture. I never figured out where the name came from though.