Channel 4 has reportedly decided to not include any elderly contestants on this year's Great British Bake Off.
The popular cookery contest was due to begin filming in April but was delayed due to coronavirus - although plans are now afoot to start filming the series under a closed-set isolation bubble.
The move would allow 80-year-old judge Prue Leith to take part but according to The Sun, older contestants will not be selected this year for their safety.
"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," a production source told the newspaper.
"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."
This year's series, which sees Matt Lucas join as a new co-host for Noel Fielding, could reportedly still begin as usual in late August despite the production delays.
Neil Wilkes
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