Since its debut in 2010, The Great British Bake Off (or The Great British Baking Show for American audiences) has become one of the most popular televised baking competitions and cooking shows. It has made for many memorable moments, whether it's judge Paul Hollywood's signature handshake or the disastrous results of a grueling technical challenge.
With the show now 12 years old and still going strong with fans, some may not know what happens during the making of each series to get it made. These behind-the-scenes facts give some insight into the making of this beloved British culinary series.
Oven Doors & Whisking Must Be Filmed
In each episode, there is a Technical Challenge and Signature Challenge that each contestant must complete in order to make it to the next stage. During these key moments, we see close-ups and bakers demonstrating their skills and knowledge on each bake that has resulted in some of the best and worst recipes on The Great British Baking Show.
Fans may not know that there are six camera operators in the tent who try and catch as much as possible. But even they can miss some of the action. And whether it's to see a contestant whisking or opening the oven door, they may have to be asked to do it again by the producer to make sure it is caught on camera, according to Radio Times.
The Application Process Is Long
Fans of the series might decide to compete and be one of the nation's greatest bakers. But the application process alone is not for the faint-hearted and has 24 rules and is seven pages long, according to Radio Times.
Some of these rules include the person not being a professional or paid cook, having no qualifications related to cooking, and being over the age of 16 (people under 16 can Junior Bake Off instead). Each page is also dedicated to a particular bake and the contestants will have to say what their signature dish for each one is.
The Ovens Are Tested Every Day With A Victoria Sponge
It's impressive to think how much preparation goes into each episode of this show. From making sure all the ingredients are ed for to ensuring all the equipment, like fridges and ovens, is operational, the film crew must make sure that the competition is fair for everyone before they arrive in the tent.
One of the main appliances to be tested every day are the ovens and they are checked in one of the oddest ways. According to The Guardian, each one must be able to cook a Victoria sponge cake, every day, and if they are successful at doing so, then the show can go on. And there's extra cake for everyone at lunchtime too!
One Person Is In Charge Of All The Washing Up
After completing all of the challenges and when the workbenches are covered in flour and splattered cake mixture, there are plenty of plates, bowls, and utensils to clean up. And to get them spotless and ready for the next episode, one person is in charge of the grime.
Birmingham Live says that Iva Vcelak is the show's home economist and she is responsible for doing the mountains of washing up that is expected to be done. But she is not alone, thankfully, as she leads a team of runners to assist her and get everything squeaky clean.
One Man Drew Over A Thousand Pictures
During the Signature Challenge, beautiful, hand-drawn pictures of each baker's cake are shown, while presenter, Noel Fielding, describes the details and flavors that will go into it. Sometimes, these bakes are the same quality as these illustrations, but not always, and they could equally end in some of the biggest baking disasters on The Great British Baking Show.
According to Surrey Live, the artist responsible for these drawings has now done over 1,000 since being on the show and his name is Tom Hovey. After each episode is filmed, he will come up with the drawings based on some photographs and bring out the best of the bakes using his pencils, sketching them out and making them ready to be edited into the televised episodes.
It Can Take Up To 16 Hours To Film Each Episode
It can take as long as 16 hours to film one episode for the series, based on what The Mirror says, but with a dedicated crew full of cake, they are able to get the job done. But believe it or not, they aren't even filming the bakes for a majority of this time.
Only one-third of the baking process gets filmed, while most of the time is used to get beauty shots of the judges, presenters, exterior shots, and the bakers themselves across a Saturday and Sunday. Any errors during the judging process have to be retaken again, adding more time to the crew's already busy weekends to create one of the more soothing reality TV competition shows out there.
The Cake Doesn't Go To Waste
There is plenty of cake and bakes left after each episode. With the two challenges, a Showstopper, and the oven-testing Victoria sponges, there's certainly a lot that can go to waste.
But fear not, as the cakes are actually eaten by everyone involved in the show, as Mental Floss reports. From the contestants tasting their own bakes to the crew having a table of leftovers for themselves, there are a lot of people to feed and The Great British Bake Off definitely helps to keep everyone full and happy.
The Contestants Are Treated To Luxury
After each episode is filmed and with tired bakers remaining in the tent, they live in a hotel not far from the iconic set. So rather than having to worry about getting home, they can all put their feet up in the same nice and cozy place, according to The Mirror.
But that's not all! They are driven by minibus to and from the tent over the course of the weekend, as two challenges are done on a Saturday and the best Great British Bake Off Showstoppers are filmed on the Sunday. And with an allowance to put towards all the ingredients, it sounds like it's quite nice to be a contestant, once you manage to win the honor.
Unusual Auditions For Potential Bakers
According to the Radio Times, once contestants have filled out the seven-page application form and a potential baker has been successfully chosen, they will have a telephone interview before meeting the producers with a sweet and savory bake. And if the producers liked what they've tasted and the personality of the person, they will be invited to the next stage.
This third stage has the person attempt to bake something while cameras are filming them. During this process, they will be asked questions while getting a cake or bun ready for the producers to see if they can deal with the potential pressure of the tent. And once that is all said and done, a lucky few will be invited to the new season of the show.
The Judges Don't Always Attempt Their Own Challenges
Each episode features Technical and Signature challenges set by one of the judges, presenting a timed, difficult bake to complete. And the judges have been known to be tough with some of their selections, particularly with desserts like pond puddings and pineapple upside-down cake.
However, according to Birmingham Live, the judges don't always attempt the challenges they set for the bakers. While Prue Leith does sometimes give them a go, the person responsible for making sure that these specific challenges can be achieved is Becca Watson, a food researcher who tests if the bakes can be done within the time limit before the go-ahead to use it in the show.