'The Great British Bake Off' has resumed filming - and a new series will air later this year.

Matt Lucas

Matt Lucas

This year's season of the Channel 4 baking show had been in serious doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic, but production is underway on the programme.

Gary Davey - CEO of Sky Studios, the parent company of 'Bake Off' producer Love Productions - has said filming is "going very well" on the show.

According to Deadline, he added to a virtual Broadcasting Press Guild lunch: "As you can imagine, there was a lot of work collaboratively between Love Productions and our Covid protocols team just to get that right."

And Sky Studios chief commercial officer Jane Millichip revealed the show has moved to a more coronavirus-friendly location.

She said: "It's all happening in deep secret, somewhere in darkest deepest Britain in the shires.

"You will have your Victoria sponge this year."

Bake Off's contestants, crew members, judges, and presenters - including new co-host Matt Lucas - are all said to have isolated before filming commenced.

Earlier this month, 'Bake Off' bosses were "working hard" to ensure this year's series would take place.

A spokesperson said 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."

Just days later, it was reported 'Bake Off' was due to resume filming this month.

An insider said: "If one person goes down with coronavirus, then everyone on set has to quarantine, the whole production is thrown into jeopardy and it's a massive risk for small companies to take.

"We are hoping that the government and big broadcasters will step up and carry some of that risk. We can't physically do it without insurance."


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