Bake Off judges and contestants had to abide by these strict new filming rules
The producers of the Great British Bake Off have revealed the strict rules they had to put in place to ensure filming could go ahead during the pandemic.
Bake Off crew created a 'safe biosphere', they told The Times, by ensuring packets of flour were cleaned with UV light and contestants bubbled together for six weeks away from their families, while judge Prue Leith, 80, isolated with her pet dogs during filming.
The tent location was also moved from Welford Park in Berkshire to Down Hall Hotel on the Essex/Hertfordshire border, where extra accommodation could be provided in the car park for those wanting to bring a plus one as they wouldn't be able to return home between episodes.
Presenter Noel Fielding reportedly brought his pregnant girlfriend Lliana Bird along, while Leith opted for her two pet Spaniels.
A compulsory 9-day contestant, presenter, crew and judge quarantine was also put in place when everyone arrived at Down Hall and golf buggies were used to shuttle people back and forth to the set, in order to comply with social distancing rules. The newspaper says only then would Channel 4 sign off on the 11th series of the hit show.
Letty Kavanagh, an executive producer on the show, said 'nothing entered the bubble withouts going through the hands of cleaners...it was quite a military operation'.
Of course, Bake Off wouldn't be Bake Off without Paul Hollywood's handshakes and – thanks to the 'biosphere' – we'll still see his signature move in the tent.
The news comes as the full line-up of amateur bakers taking part is released. They include a Jamaican radiographer, a pantomime producer from West Sussex and a Cornish sculptor.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF BAKE OFF CONTESTANTS 2020 HERE
This year, Matt Lucas joins the show as co-presenter alongside Noel Fielding. He replaces Sandy Toksvig who announced she was leaving GBBO in January.
The Great British Bake Off starts at 8pm next Tuesday (22nd September) on Channel 4.
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