Entertainment
Great British Bake Off stars ‘to isolate in luxury hotel ahead of new series’ despite lockdown easing as show bosses remain ‘extra cautious’
The hosts and judges of Great British Bake Off are reportedly going to form a Covid bubble for the second time ahead of this year’s series.
Lockdown restrictions are set to ease completely by June 21, meaning filming is allowed to go ahead as normal, however programme makers are said to be playing it safe anyway by keeping the four stars – Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood – isolated in a luxury hotel in Hertfordshire.
They will remain there until filming kicks off in July, according to The Sun.
A TV insider said: ‘Although many of the rules and regulations that made filming difficult are now easing, the producers of the show wanted to be extra cautious.
‘Lockdown is still set to fully lift next month, but changing events could mean that doesn’t happen, or restrictions that have recently eased could be brought back into force.
‘But this covers them for any eventuality — it also means they’ll enjoy a rather nice retreat too.’
Channel 4 successfully filmed a new series of Bake Off, a Celebrity Bake Off and Christmas specials in 2020 thanks to their Covid-safe filming conditions.
Host Matt previously said on Lorraine: ‘We’re starting (filming) very soon. And like last year we’re going into a bubble.
‘All self-isolating and getting tested. And then we’re going into a Covid-free bubble, so we can all taste each other’s bakes and there can be handshakes and all sorts.’
He said the process last year was ‘gruelling’ on contestants.
He said: ‘Love Productions hired a hotel and we had a skeleton staff of 25, and we had a Covid medic team and special cleaners and everyone lived in this hotel and the tent was in the grounds. So you could leave your room and be in makeup in 90 seconds so I slept more than I usually do when filming.
‘It was tough for the bakers – we had two days on and two days off, and on the days off the bakers were in the practice kitchen, so it was gruelling for them.’
The Little Britain star, who replaced former host Sandi Toksvig, revealed how the entire Bake Off gang would keep themselves entertained when filming was done for the day.
‘I hosted bingo one night, Pru did flower arranging, and Paul made pizzas, it was like a holiday camp.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
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