Inside the Bake Off bubble as show’s coronavirus safety measures revealed
IT is the show that defied Covid to lift the nation’s spirits this autumn – and now judge Prue Leith has lifted the lid on the secrets behind the Bake Off bubble.
Cookery expert Prue has revealed the tricks the Channel 4 series used to make the UK’s most famous tent “the safest place in England” — lighting the path for how Strictly and I’m A Celebrity can be made pandemic-proof.
With cast and crew isolating in a bio-secure bubble during filming, new presenter Matt Lucas hosted bingo nights, judge Paul Hollywood cooked and delivered pizzas to contestants while Prue held flower-arranging classes to boost morale.
Matt’s co-host, Noel Fielding, even had to frantically move girlfriend Birdy on to the set — because she had a bun in the oven.
Opening up on what she sees as the most “remarkable few weeks of her life” Prue, 80, said: “In the evenings there were movies on a big screen (beanbags on the floor), and one night we all played bingo, with Matt calling the numbers and Noel winning first prize of a tower of Pot Noodles.
“Medics were everywhere, security guards patrolled, cleaners cleaned.
FAMOUS HANDSHAKE
“Once you were in you couldn’t leave, and if you had to leave you’d not be allowed back in. I do think we made television history.”
Since the eleventh series of Bake Off hit TV screens last month, 11million people have watched each week — Channel 4’s best viewing figures since 1985.
Yet fans do not see the extraordinary lengths bosses went to, to keep the cast safe and ensure Paul could continue delivering his famous Hollywood handshake — with contestant Lottie Bedlow bagging the first of the series.
Producers used military-style planning of the kind that Strictly and I’m A Celeb must now put in place as they return amid a second wave of coronavirus.
BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing — starting next Saturday — has placed its dancers and celebs in bubbles and is testing daily.
ITV1’s I’m A Celebrity has had to move from Australia’s Gold Coast to Gwrych Castle in North Wales, which producers are scrambling to make coronavirus-secure.
Bake Off had also relocated — ditching its previous base in Welford Park, Berks, in favour of Down Hall Hotel — a country house set in 110 acres of woodland and parkland in Essex, near Bishop’s Stortford.
There, in May, a biosphere bubble was created for 130 cast and crew and around 25 hotel staff.
Bakers had to relocate to the spa-hotel with their partners, children and even their dogs.
Chaperones were provided for their kids during filming and a dog pen was built. Before anyone was allowed to enter the bubble they had to quarantine for nine days and undergo three Covid-19 tests.
Only after everyone had passed could filming finally start.
In previous years, the bakers have fought it out mostly at weekends in episodes filmed over 12 weeks, returning home and to their day jobs in between.
But this year everyone involved had to put their lives on hold to live in the bubble for a series filmed in just 42 days.
Producers placed notices all over the set with messages such as “wash your hands” and “if you love me, don’t hug me”.
Dozens of posh tents were put up in the hotel grounds containing sleeping quarters, office equipment to communicate with the world outside the bubble, and doctors’ quarters in case anyone fell ill.
The crew and cast had their own wing, garden, dining hall and bar separate from the contestants, so the latter did not feel constantly under pressure from the judges.
But they were able to mix, so “it wasn’t a case of us and them”.
Individual kitchens were created in a structure in the hotel car park for the 12 bakers to practise.
Those taking part relaxed on days off by playing football, cricket, rounders, croquet, ping pong, and by organising a tennis tournament.
In the evenings there were movies on a big screen and endless supplies of negroni cocktails.
‘INSTANT SUCCESS’
But the highlight of the entertainment was Matt’s bingo night.
“Matt was an instant success,” Prue told the Daily Telegraph.
“He has that winning combination of wit and kindness that makes everyone love him.”
One of the producers put a dozen colleagues through twice-weekly gruelling HIIT fitness classes and another ran yoga sessions.
A team of cleaners used disinfectant and UV light to sanitise everything that arrived on site.
And while flour may have been in short supply in supermarkets nationwide earlier this year, ingredients for the show had been pre-ordered from wholesalers. Guards patrolled 24/7 to ensure no strangers entered the bubble.
But Prue said it was not the idea of an unwelcome intruder that worried them most — it was the fear of Noel having to leave.
In a recent interview, she talked about how Noel was on high-alert in case his girlfriend, radio presenter Lliana Bird — who he affectionately calls Birdy — went into labour.
It was decided Matt would host alone if Noel had to leave, and pregnant Birdy and their two-year- old daughter Dali were brought into the bubble with them.
The worst moment came a few weeks into production when a hotel staff member shielding in the bubble showed Covid symptoms and had to isolate.
Shooting was paused for a day but a test proved negative and the show was able to finish filming in August.
Producer Kieran Smith told the Radio Times: “Somebody spoke to our medical team because they were showing symptoms that could have been Covid.
Most read in TV
“We had very strict protocols about what to do.
“They were isolated immediately, as was anyone who had been in close contact with them.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“They were tested immediately. We paused filming for an afternoon. The test came back negative and we resumed filming the next day.”
Kelly Webb-Lamb, Channel 4’s deputy director of programmes, added: “It was a good atmosphere on set. It was an opportunity to be normal. We had fun.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]