This week, Peter, Laura, and Dave battled intense heat and each other to be crowned the Great British Bake Off 2020 winner and delivered the closest final ever, according to judge Paul Hollywood.

Advertisement

It's been 10 weeks since we met our Great British Bake Off 2020 contestants for the first time. There have been tears, disasters, patisserie towers, tiers and more tears, but Peter Sawkins became the winner of season 11 of Bake Off.

This week's Great British Bake Off theme will see the final three take on their last Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenge in a bid to be crowned the series 11 winner.

It's going to be a tough decision for the Great British Bake Off judges and hosts, but who will they decide on out of Peter, Dave and Laura?

Already, Great British Bake Off fans have called for Peter to be crowned the winner in an exclusive RadioTimes.com poll, which saw the 20-year-old receive 80 per cent of the votes.

However, with three baking challenges standing between the trio, any one of them could walk away with the glass cake stand - and title of course!

So as we get closer to hearing the winner's name being announced, here's everything you need to know about series 11 of The Great British Bake Off.

When is The Great British Bake Off final on TV in 2020?

The Great British Bake Off Final will air on Channel 4 on Tuesday, 24th November at 8pm.

The contestants will take on one last Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenge, before one of them is crowned this year's winner.

We've got our sweet treats and tea ready!

Filming for the series started at the end of July, with contestants and crew reportedly having to quarantine for 14 days.

A spokesperson for Love Productions - the company which creates the show - explained at the time: "We are working hard to deliver Bake Off to the audience this year, the priority is the safety of everyone involved in the production of the series."

Great British Bake Off 2020 contestants

Here's the full list of this year's Great British Bake Off bakers:

Finalists

Eliminated

Great British Bake Off 2020 contestants
Great British Bake Off 2020 contestants Channel 4

Was filming for GBBO 2020 affected by coronavirus?

Like many other shows, filming for The Great British Bake Off was delayed due to the recent pandemic.

Filming was expected to begin in May, but, due to the public health crisis, it was postponed.

Creative director at Love Productions Kieran Smith spoke about the difficulties filming in the pandemic earlier in the year.

Speaking in an issue of Radio Times Magazine, Smith revealed production was almost put on hold after someone on set began to show potential symptoms of the virus and had to be tested.

He said: “Somebody spoke to our medical team because they were showing symptoms that could have been COVID.

“We had very strict protocols about what to do. They were isolated immediately, as was anyone who had been in close contact with them. They were tested immediately. We paused filming for an afternoon. The test came back negative and we resumed filming the next day.”

“We were lucky,” he added, “but it felt it like we would need to be extremely unlucky for it to be positive.”

Bake Off also shared the behind-the-scenes changes the show had to go through in order to work in the current climate ahead of it's launch in September.

The show’s production staff, which consists of 120 people, had to live in a self-contained biosphere for six weeks to safely film the upcoming series and allow the cast to work around social-distancing guidelines.

Smith explained: “So many people rely on Bake Off for work that we knew we had to work out a plan.”

Deputy Director of Programmes at Channel 4, Kelly Webb-Lamb also spoke about the changes that had to be made to show.

During the Edinburgh TV Festival, she said: "What we've done is created protocols with the production companies that absolutely there are protocols, we've worked hard with them to put testing and quarantining regimes in place beforehand for all talent, all cast, all crew, so that when we go into the bubble we know that everybody there is negative."

The team even managed to work around the Great Flour Shortage of 2020 - by sourcing bags from restaurants.

GBBO 2020 hosts

The Great British Bake Off 2018 - Noel Fielding

Bake Off 2020 will look a little different from previous years, after Sandi Toksvig announced she was to quit the show.

She has been replaced by comedian Matt Lucas, who has joined Noel Fielding as host.

"When stepping down from a job it is quite common for people to say they are doing so in order to spend more time with their family. Unusually I am departing from the Great British Bake Off so I can spend more time with my other work," Sandi explained in a statement when she departed the show.

“As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show. Spending time with Prue, Paul and Noel has been one of the great pleasures of my life. These are friendships which I know will continue beyond the confines of television.

“Bake Off is a wonderful programme which has already proved it can happily withstand a change of hosting personnel. The reason for that, of course, is that the true stars of the show are the bakers themselves. I wish everyone well.”

What did Matt say about joining GBBO?

Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas is the new Bake Off host Getty Images

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the Little Britain star would be taking over from Sandi on The Great British Bake Off.

Speaking of his new role, Matt said: “I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers. And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation. See you in the tent!”

Matt also revealed exactly what he would bake for his Showstopper cake as he spoke to Steph McGovern.

Referring to his single The Baked Potato Song - from which all proceeds are going towards the NHS and the fight against COVID-19 - he said: “Oh…well…obviously I’d do a baked potato of course!”

Matt recently opened up about filming in the current pandemic, comparing it to "living on a holiday camp".

During an appearance on Steph McGovern's daytime show, Steph's Packed Lunch, he explained: “We did something I don’t think any other production had yet done. The makers, Love Productions, hired a hotel and we had a skeleton staff working in the hotel of about 25 people. Everyone who was working on the show lived in this hotel and the tent was put up in the grounds."

He added: “It was amazing. We did things in the evening. I hosted bingo one night, Prue did a flower arranging class and Paul Hollywood brought his pizza oven and made pizzas for everyone. It was like living on a holiday camp.”

Matt also told Steph how emotional he found the competition, saying: “I would get very invested in it… I would have to go to my room after a baker was sent home and have a word with myself for a couple of hours because I’d get really upset. It was emotional.”

GBBO 2020 judges

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith on The Great British Bake Off
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith on The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4) Channel 4

Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood came back to deliver savage criticism, Hollywood handshakes and complete death stares across the tent. Our Great British Bake Off judges and hosts will have a fun job this year getting to taste some yummy concoctions - but how many handshakes will be dished out?

How do you apply for the Great British Bake Off?

Unfortunately, applications for Bake Off 2020 have now closed. But if you ever think you're in with a chance in the future, read our stellar guide with hints and tips from Bake Off 2017 winner Sophie Faldo about how to nail your application.

Who won The Great British Bake Off in 2019?

bake off david final
David wins The Great British Bake Off 2019 Channel 4

While Steph was the front-runner for the majority of the series, underdog David Atherton stunned fans by taking the top prize during the final.

He joins a growing list of Great British Bake Off winners who have conquered the famous white tent.

Advertisement

The Great British Bake Off Final is on Channel 4 on Tuesday, 24th November at 8pm. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV guide.

Authors

Kimberley BondEntertainment Correspondent, RadioTimes.com
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement