Great British Bake Off 2020: Meet this year’s line-up competing under strict COVID-19 rules
Great British Bake Off 2020: Meet this year’s line-up competing under strict COVID-19 rules… including a pantomime producer, a radiographer, an armoured guard, and an amputee who uses baking as therapy
- Channel 4 has unveiled the 12 home-bakers competing in the eleventh season of The Great British Bake Off, due to hit screens on September 22
- The upcoming series took place at a private location in Essex after five years of filming at Welford Park in Berkshire, with all cast and crew undergoing regular COVID-19 testing in an isolation bubble
- This year’s edition will see Matt Lucas make his debut as he replaces Sandi Toksvig to host alongside comedian Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith
- The popular show had been scheduled to go into production back in April, but kicked off in July once lockdown restrictions eased
- One of 12 hopefuls will take home the desirable title of Bake Off champion, won last year by David Atherton
- Do you know any of this year’s Bake Off contestants? Get in touch by emailing tips@dailymail.com
Channel 4 has unveiled the 12 home-bakers competing in the eleventh season of The Great British Bake Off, due to hit screens on September 22.
The new batch of hopefuls boasts are as diverse as ever, with the line-up including a pantomime producer, a radiographer, an armoured guard, and an amputee who uses baking as a form of therapy.
This year’s edition will see Matt Lucas make his debut as he replaces Sandi Toksvig to host alongside comedian Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
The upcoming series took place at a private location in Essex after five years of filming at Welford Park in Berkshire, with all cast and crew members undergoing regular COVID-19 testing in an isolation bubble amid the pandemic.
Producers said they drew up a list of safety rules ‘longer than the Bible’ before filming started in Essex. Executive producer Letty Kavanagh insisted even packets of flour were cleaned several times.
Before entering the ‘biosphere’, the contestants had to quarantine for nine days and then give two negative results from coronavirus tests. They were tested again at the venue. Anything coming in and out of the Bake Off bubble, including luggage and food deliveries, had to be deep-cleaned.
Let’s bake! Channel 4 has unveiled the 12 home-bakers competing in the eleventh season of The Great British Bake Off, due to hit screens next Tuesday (L-R: Hermine, Sura, Rowan, Marc, Laura, Linda, Makbul, Dave, Loriea, Lottie, Mark and Peter)
Fantastic four: This year’s edition will see Matt Lucas make his debut as he replaces Sandi Toksvig to host alongside comedian Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith
In with the new: The upcoming series took place at a private location in Essex after five years of filming at Welford Park in Berkshire
Strict rules: All cast and crew members undergoing regular COVID-19 testing in an isolation bubble amid the pandemic
Diverse: (L-R) Marc, 51, from Cornwall, joined the series in a bid to defy the odds after losing his leg in a motorbike accident in 2016, while panto producer Lottie, 31, from West Sussex, believes she’s inherited her love for baking from her great nan
Holding out a Lottie hope! Lottie has been sharing snaps teasing her appearance on social media
Last year saw David Atherton, 37, from London beat Steph Blackwell and Alice Fevronia, both 29, to be crowned the 2019 champion – despite never winning Star Baker.
Filming for the upcoming season kicked off in late July in the Essex countryside, just a stone’s throw from celebrity chef Paul’s £1 million Grade II listed farmhouse in Kent.
The popular show had been scheduled to go into production back in April, before the pandemic, and subsequent lockdown, scuppered all plans.
However, Sky Studios CEO Gary Davey brought all hopes for the show’s return back to life in July, when he revealed that filming is ‘going very well’.
Yay! Mark’s name on social media is The Baking Buddha and he recently announced his appearance on the show
Wide range: (L-R) At 61, retirement living team leader Linda from East Sussex is this year’s oldest contestant, while the youngest in the group is accounting and finance student Peter, 20, from Edinburgh
Despite being considered a high-risk candidate for coronavirus at 80, Prue decided to make a comeback to the much-loved series.
TV sources previously claimed producers banned older contestants who are considered vulnerable to the virus. An insider told The Sun: ‘There’s a real sense of urgency to get the next series of Bake Off in the can, considering it’s one of Channel 4’s biggest draws.
‘That means the nation’s baking grans and grandads have been deemed too high risk. Bake Off’s wizened contestants are often the heart of the show. Val, who would ‘listen’ to cakes to work out if they were done, and rapping septuagenarian Flo became favourites.’
Kelly Webb-Lamb, deputy director of programmes and head of popular factual for Channel 4, recently admitted it was an ‘enormous’ feat getting the show back on air.
Unicorn magic! Dave revealed he has made cakes for a first birthday
The TV executive credited stringent health and safety measures, testing and quarantine regimes for the return of the baking hit.
Media personality Paul, 54, wants to continue using his trademark handshake in the upcoming season, despite fears of spreading the virus.
The food expert’s handshake is widely regarded as the golden ticket for bakers who aim to meet his high expectations or win Star Baker of the week. Kieran Smith, of show maker Love Productions, confirmed his iconic gesture will take place in the series.
Passionate: (L-R) Loriea, 27, from Durham started baking 10 years earlier with help from her grandmother, and digital manager Laura, 31, from Kent, focuses on mastering ‘pretty and dainty’ decorations with her masterpieces
Reigning: One of 12 hopefuls will take home the desirable title of Bake Off champion, won last year by David Atherton (pictured)
‘For the first time I put a bit on this year’: Culinary expert Paul, 54, has admitted he’s gained weight in lockdown (L in August, R last October)
According to The Sun, the culinary star admitted he’s gained weight in lockdown. He said: ‘For the first time I put a bit of weight on this year — I wanted to get out more. Normally I’m out on the bike, I’m out doing stuff out and away, but I put a little bit of weight on.
‘It’s really difficult when you’re there, because you always start off and you’re eating so much stuff. We used to have a little gap in between each one. Now we’re not so it felt like you were constantly eating!’
The first time fans witnessed his congratulatory move was in series three of the former BBC show. The program was relaunched on Channel 4 in 2017 and saw him dish out another seven handshakes in just one run.
Channel 4 has clarified they will follow strict safety protocol so that all parties are free to handshake to their heart’s content.
The new series of The Great British Bake Off will begin on Channel 4 on September 22 at 8pm.