Bake Off to return as usual thanks to cast and crew filming ‘in bubble’
THE GREAT British Bake Off will look as it always does when it returns to screens due to the cast and crew living and filming “in a bubble”, a Channel 4 executive has said.
Production of the 11th series was initially delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but filming on the popular show finished last week.
Kelly Webb-Lamb, deputy director of programmes and head of popular factual for Channel 4, explained during a controller session at Edinburgh’s Television Festival that the “enormous” feat of getting the show back on air was due to stringent health and safety measures.
She said: “The feat of getting Bake Off back was enormous and enormously important.
“I think we all felt, I certainly felt that working to ensure we could get Bake Off back on the screen was such an important thing for us as a channel, such an important thing for the audience and Love Productions (who make Bake Off) were just full of ingenuity and determination to get it to happen.”
In the upcoming series, comedian Matt Lucas replaces Sandi Toksvig as the programme’s co-host alongside Noel Fielding. The duo join judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Fiona Bruce and the Antiques Roadshow team have been filming at Newby Hall, near Ripon, valuing family heirlooms and missing masterpieces.
The show, which has been running for more than four decades, was filmed this week on a closed set with a small invited audience only, to ensure the safety of guests, production and the wider public.
Series editor Robert Murphy said: “Newby Hall was selected as an Antiques Roadshow location because of its incredible house, award-winning gardens and collection of stunning Roman statues. We were delighted to feature some of Newby’s collection in one of Fiona’s games, which will make a really special film.”