Virgin Radio
31 Jul 2023, 12:40
The Great British Bake Off is expected to return to Channel 4 in September.
On your marks, get set, bake! It’s nearly time for our yearly offering of Hollywood handshakes, soggy bottoms, and star bakers.
The popular baking competition will be returning for its 14th season this September, but following Matt Lucas’ exit from the show, who will host the programme with Noel Fielding?
Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming series…
The official start date is yet to be confirmed, but it is rumoured that The Great British Bake Off will begin around Tuesday 12th September 2023, as suggested by Channel 4’s autumn schedule.
Last year’s series began on Tuesday 13th September 2022 at 8pm.
The 14th season of The Great British Bake Off will be presented by The Mighty Boosh comedian Noel Fielding and This Morning’s Alison Hammond.
The TV personality will replace comedian Matt Lucas, who announced he would be leaving the show in December 2022.
Back in January, Lucas appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch to reveal the reason why he was quitting Bake Off after three series.
He explained: “David [Walliams] has left Britain’s Got Talent, and we’ve been looking for a way to sit down and write together again.
“We have started writing a treatment for a new series, which we would love in a dream world to get made.”
Luckily for those hoping for a Hollywood handshake, Paul Hollywood will be judging the 14th series with the help of South African restauranter, Prue Leith.
Speaking to Nick Grimshaw on the Dish podcast, Leith uncovered what it is like to work with her co-stars: “I never get the jokes, you know… all this stuff about innuendo and things.
“I’m really glad Alison’s coming because at least she’s a woman and she’ll be a little more sensible.”
The contestants of The Great British Bake Off 2023 are yet to be announced.
The hopeful bakers are usually revealed about a week before the show starts.
More than 12,000 people apply to be on the programme each year, but only 12 are successful.
Last year, Dr Syabira Yusoff, a cardiovascular research associate, impressed the judges with her Malaysian takes on British classics, and won the series.
The Great British Bake Off is usually filmed at Welford Park in Berkshire.
The iconic white tent was pitched next to the grandiose Grade-I listed house for the 13th season, as well as series five to 10.
The marquee was moved to the grounds of Down Hall Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, in 2020 and 2021. This was so the cast and crew could isolate together whilst filming the show to prevent them from catching and spreading COVID-19.
Unfortunately, fans cannot visit the Bake Off tent, but they can enjoy a day out at Welford Park.
The property was originally a monastery before it became King Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.
The park is open to the public at certain times of the year. The most popular time to visit is during their snowdrop season in February and March. The flowers are thought to have been planted by Norman monks when they owned the property.
The public can also visit Welford Park when they host special events, such as their Spectacle of Light experience, which will run from 20th October until 12th November 2023.
The 14th series of The Great British Bake Off will air on Channel 4 later this year. The last six series of The Great British Bake Off are available to stream on Channel 4.