Charly's Cake Angels is a South African docu-reality television series produced by Cooked in Africa Films which provides an intimate view of life behind-the-scenes of Charly's Bakery, a family owned and operated bakery nestled in the heart of Cape Town's Fringe district, best known for its anything-is-possible approach to baking.
Filmed by Cooked in Africa Films, Charly's Cake Angels invites viewers into the magical world of one of Cape Town's best-loved bakeries.
Charly's Cake Angels provides South African audiences with an intimate view of life behind-the-scenes of Charly's Bakery, a family owned and operated bakery nestled in the heart of Cape Town's Fringe district, best known for its anything-is-possible approach to baking.
Founded 21 years ago by Charly and Jacqui Biess, this graffiti-clad gem is where Jacqui and her three daughters (Alexandra, Daniella and Roche) together with 33 staff conjure up Cape Town's most fantastic cake creations.
Charly's Cake Angels is more than a documentary set in a bakery, offering a unique and entertaining view into the lives of the "Angels" and the community they serve, providing an entertaining and heart-warming showcase to truly "mucking afazing" cakes that do more than make people's mouths water.
Don't be fooled into thinking Charly's Bakery is a factory. It's a philosophy and a way of life, with a strong local and social media following.
The series portrays the joie de vivre, laughter, creative innovation and candy-striped chaos that patrons don't usually see, to a local TV audience and beyond, using social media and in-store promotional mechanisms.
Each 26-minute episode is themed, from the thrilling "Cape Town Cake" episode where the Angels create a five-tier cake depicting the magic of the Mother City for the Design Indaba, to the unveiling of the "Fashion" episode where the Bakery partnered with Cosmopolitan Magazine to produce an inspiring range of handbag and shoe cakes which will leave viewers with their mouths gaping.
The heart-wrenching "Revenge of the Rhino" episode sees the Angels off on an adventure to Aquila Game Reserve to celebrate the birth of a baby Rhino. Tragically, since the filming of the Series, the Reserve has lost two Rhinos to poaching.
From wedding masterpieces to birthday fantasies, there is no tier too tall, and no request too small – Charly's Cake Angels thrive on making any dream come true.
Get ready to fall in love with the Angels and ganache-covered creatures of Charly's Bakery.
The Angels
Jacqui Biess
Jacqui, the dynamic owner of the bakery, is the wacky wife of the elusive and retired Charly. She's warm-hearted and wedding crazy. She's a proud mother, whose daughters, Alex and Dani, and adopted daughter Roche, all work at the madcap bakery with her.
Alex Biess
Oldest daughter of Jacqui and Charly, Alex is a workaholic dynamo, who manages the bakery with aplomb. She's creative, witty and weathers the bakery storms with a shrug and the proverbial dance in the rain.
Dani Biess
Youngest daughter of Jacqui and Charly, Dani is the big-hearted ninja-bread girl. She's a whiz with words and cupcakes, loves mucking-in and is a devilishly talented and foxy cake decorator.
Roche Riva Schollij
The adopted daughter of Jacqui and Charly and sister of Alex and Dani, Roche is the one who feeds everyone and keeps them all sane – a job at the bakery, which can't be underrated. She's the fairy godmother of big hugs and warmth.
Frances Bell
The backbone of the bakery, Frances heads up the shape-cake section of the bakery. She's wonderful, hardworking and creates the most astonishing cakes. With a background in cake decorating, she's a purist who's learnt (with raised eyebrows) to bend the rules to create the screwball Charly's Bakery style cakes.