The Great British Bake Off has become a staple of the cooking world and is now copied across the globe. The tent is the famous location for which all the events take place, but there's a lot that fans don't know about life in the tent, which might just change the way they look at the show.
Ultimately, going through the Bake Off is both a challenging and rewarding task. Everything is set up for the contestants to succeed but that doesn't mean that tent life is straightforward. Ahead of the release of the next season of the show, it's interesting to look at what really happens under the canvas.
A Practice Tent
Bakers aren't just thrown into the experience without getting some extra practice in. While there's always time to have an extra go with a recipe at home, the Bake Off team also gives the contestants a practice tent, where they can run through their plan in similar conditions.
Everything about the tent is the same as the usual setup. That means that the contestants can get a feel for the oven, and what it's like to craft their creation with the usual pressures of the show, including the time limit. The judges are usually not too impressed if someone has failed to try out the tent.
Weather Problems
Because Bake Off really is filmed in a tent, the great British weather can sometimes cause a problem. When there are high winds or a torrential downpour of rain, it can make filming pretty tricky. Sometimes everything has to be halted to allow the weather to .
Damages and leaks have occurred in the tent, but it's rare that they affect the baking itself. If there was to ever be a weather-related incident that impacted the contestants, then it would be quite the controversial elimination. Usually, the main problem is whether the cameras can pick up the sound or not.
Radom UK Locations
The Bake Off tent could pop up anywhere in the UK. While in the past, due to the ongoing global crisis, there has been a typical location where the show is filmed, usually, the placement of the tent can change. There have even been times when it's moved over a few weeks.
The tradition is that the tent is set in a wide, green, open space. Usually a field or a park, away from the public's attention. The gorgeous British scenery often plays a backdrop to the opening intro of the show, and the contestants have to get used to taking interviews in the area too about their best and their worst bakes.
All Living Together
The global crisis did shift the way that the competition unfolded. Traditionally, the Bake Off would be filmed when the contestants were free, often on weekends or throughout their working week. It's filmed over a longer period, with the contestants traveling in for the competition.
But, to meet safety precautions, a few recent seasons have seen the cast and the crew all put into the same bubble. The contest is filmed over a shorter period and everyone lives together, which isn't usually a normal part of tent life. It has made for far closer bonds though.
Waiting For The Cameras
While there is something truly authentic and natural about the way Bake Off is put together, which makes it so popular, at the end of the day it is still a massive television production. The contestants have to quickly learn that the camera is really important.
The format is the same for the celebrity, traditional, and even junior Bake Off specials. Bakers have to wait before they do anything major in their recipe, like taking something out of the oven. There has to be a camera available to catch the moment, and it's a constant thought within the tent, which will have to be ed for in timings.
Provides All Equipment
Whether they go out in the first week or are destined to be the winner of the show, every baker deserves an equal opportunity to succeed. Once again, it's the same in every format of the show, contestants can ask for absolutely anything they need throughout the process.
Some objects might be too bizarre and at that point, the baker will create their own or bring one into the tent, which is allowed upon approval. However, for the most part, the bakers have full access to some of the best equipment in the business, which makes tent life a little sweeter.
First Aider On Hand
Accidents can be pretty common in the Bake Off tent. The fact is, there are knives and other dangerous objects constantly in use. With so much to concentrate on, there have been a fair few injuries, from dropping things, breaking glass, and even burns.
No injuries have been too severe or caused anyone to drop out of the competition. However, the risks of tent life mean that there's a first-aider on hand at all times. Riskier moments like fainting have always been dealt with effectively, but the contest usually doesn't shut down if someone is out of action.
The Temperature
Temperature can play a huge role in how well a bake comes out. If it's the usual British weather then the cold can be ed for with heaters and elements like proving drawers. But when in a tent, very little can be done about the intense sunshine of the summer.
In all honesty, sunny weather in Britain isn't all that common, but when it does occur the tent becomes somewhat of a greenhouse. The problem is when the contestants are dealing with meltable substances, from tempered chocolate to creams. It can prove to be quite the challenge.
Close With The Judges
Audiences have plenty of unpopular opinions concerning the judges, but for the most part, they get on with their roles perfectly. It used to be that the judges took a bit more of a backseat when it came to creating personal relationships with the contestants themselves.
Nowadays though, tent life is far closer. From the judges to the hosts, each member of the team gets to know the contestants, with plenty of long-term friendships getting born. Genuine advice is ed along as well now, which can always help the bakers improve. The experience is a constant learning curve.
A Lot Of Free Time
Just like filming any TV show, there can be a lot of free time to waste. In between filming, there are endless waits and even when baking, a lot of the process is about timings and allowing their creations to cook. Tent life could get pretty boring.
That's how many of these friendships blossom, as the group are stuck in a tent together, sometimes for really long days. The hosts and bakers usually make up games together to waste the time, and Junior Bake Off in particular has been known to get pretty chaotic during those waiting periods.