The Great British Bake Off executive producer Letty Kavanagh has detailed the extreme measures undertaken to film the new series.
The show's planned April to June filming schedule was abandoned due to coronavirus, with filming ultimately taking place in a restricted-access set over six weeks this month and last.
Kavanagh booked out Down Hall in Essex for the new series and effectively created a "giant biosphere" with the contestants, judges, hosts, 80 production staff, 20 hotel staff and 20 others.
According to Broadcast, all personnel were required to quarantine for nine days and produce three negative coronavirus tests prior to entering the complex, which Kavanagh said "felt like the safest place in Britain".
As a result of the setup, everyone on site was allowed free interaction with each other, meaning that viewers will not see any social distancing on screen.
The new series will air on Channel 4 from next month.
Neil Wilkes
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