15 Recipes to Try if You’re Inspired by ‘The Great British Bake Off’ (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest great British Bake Off controversy? ›

#Bingate. Arguably one of the most controversial moments in the Bake Off tent ever; when Iain Watters ice cream melted after his fellow contestant Diana Beard removed his dessert from the freezer during the 2014 series.

The contestants are not paid for being on the show, though they are given a modest stipend so they can practice their bakes at home.

John Whaite won The Great British Bake Off back in 2012 and has since built his own TV career. In 2021 he appeared in Strictly Come Dancing and reached the semi-final as well as featuring on Steph's Packed Lunch, This Morning and Sunday Brunch.

When Iain found it, the ice cream had melted and, frustrated, he threw the sponge cake and melted ice cream in the dustbin. (It was later stated by producers that the dessert was only out for one minute.)

Matt Lucas has said "farewell" to the Great British Bake Off tent, as the comedian confirmed he was stepping down as a presenter of the show. The 48-year-old said his three-series stint had been a "delicious experience" but the time needed to oversee bakes alongside other projects was too much.

He explained that it had become too much of a struggle juggling his various TV commitments. “Farewell Bake Off!” he wrote in a statement. “It's been a delicious experience and I can't imagine a more fun way of spending my summers.

It was previously reported that Noel makes around £200,000 per series of Bake Off, according to The Sun. Meanwhile, Alison is no stranger to the programme as she took part in Celebrity Great British Bake Off which helps to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer.

Paul's fellow judge Prue Leith's exact salary is being kept a closely guarded secret. However, when she signed her contract back in 2017, it was reported she is paid £200,000 a series.

Do They Stay at the House Where the Tent Is Located? No. The contestants stay at a nearby hotel during the weekends and travel to the tent via minibus during competition days before returning home during the week, Quinn told Cosmopolitan. The judges and hosts are put up in a hotel, though a different one.

Nadiya Hussain MBE, 38, won The Great British Bake Off in 2015, and earns the most of all the Bake Off winners.

How staged is the Great British baking show? ›

The show isn't staged, which helps set it apart from some other competition series. Although reality TV has a reputation for not being very real, according to Hetherington, "Bake Off" is an exception. "Nothing is staged on this show. There's no prize at the end of the day other than a plate," he said.

During season 4 judge Paul Hollywood was accused of favoring 21-year-old contestant Ruby Tandoh and giving her special treatment due to her looks, with many even going so far as to suggest the two were having an affair. Hollywood could have perhaps shot down the claims in a more professional and tactful manner.

Watters then challenged BBC's account. The controversy deepened when Diana dropped out of the competition soon after due to a fall that left her without a sense of smell or taste.

Fielding didn't want put on weight

Noel Fielding told The Independent that it was important for him to be at a certain weight to get the kinds of acting roles he needs. He was pretty straightforward about it when he said, "I get more work when I'm thinner. So I can't put on weight.

She met her husband Malcolm when she was 16 and they are still happily married. Diana found herself at the center of the "Bingate" controversy, where she was accused of sabotage after removing her fellow contestant Iain Watters' dessert from the freezer to make space for her own.

Paul Hollywood's love life

They split in 2013 after he was accused of having an affair with his American Baking Competition co-star, Marcela Valladolid. At the time, Paul called it “the biggest mistake of my life”.

The fourth series of the show in 2013 saw fans levy accusations of favouritism against Paul Hollywood as it was suggested he gave preferential treatment to then 21-year-old contestant Ruby Tandoh due to her looks.

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins' seven-series tenure as hosts of The Great British Bake Off nearly did not happen after they resigned on the first day of filming. The pair have revealed that they quit because they feared producers wanted to make a more intrusive and crueller show than they were happy with.