I won The Great British Bake Off but it was seriously gruelling - you hardly see the judges, producers shut down our conversations and there's one moment on set EVERYONE dreads
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The winner of The Great British Bake Off has revealed what really goes on behind-the-scenes of the Channel 4 show - including hardly seeing the show's judges and producers keeping conversations to a minimum.
Matty Edgell, who took home the trophy on the baking series in 2023, explained there's a lot that goes on that viewers don't get to see on screen.
Baker Matty, 30, admitted that the stars were often tasked with twelve-hour filming days in order to get all the content required for the Channel 4 series.
And there wasn't much time for fun, as producers often controlled conversations between stars - and made sure there was no access to phones through filming.
Matty told Lottoland: 'You’re in the tent from about 7am and don’t leave until 6 or 7 at night. I remember thinking - it’s an hour show, how can it take that long? But they weren’t lying.
'If we went out for dinner, we had producers with us at all times. If conversation started to go towards Bake Off, they’d shut it down straight away.
Matty Edgell revealed what really goes on behind-the-scenes of the Channel 4 show
Matty told Lottoland how stars didn't get long to spend with the judges
'The first thing they do is take your phones off you. You’ve got nothing else to do but talk to each other - which is probably why everyone gets so close.'
Matty explained that despite there being a lot of time dedicated to the judging segment on screen, the contestants get far less time than viewers expect alongside the hosts and judges.
'The first time we met the judges was during what they call the "Royal Tour" - that’s when they come round while you’re baking and you introduce your dish,' he said.
'You don’t actually get to spend much time with them. They’re not in the tent as much as you think, and there’s no time where you’re just chatting with them.
'It feels strange at first, but it makes sense - they can’t build any bias or favour certain bakers.'
There are also a series of filming tricks that are used behind-the-scenes in order for the crew to get all the shots they need.
He added: 'You have to walk into the tent twice every time for filming. Then you just stand there staring forward for about 10 minutes while they get different shots.
'The showstopper judging goes on for about 10 minutes, but you only see the harshest comments. They actually explain in detail how you can improve.
Prue Leith, who replaced former show judge Mary Berry in 2017, confirmed she was waving goodbye to the hit baking series earlier this year
'If you’re about to mess something up, suddenly every camera is on you. That’s when you realise - this isn’t going to go well.'
It comes after Nigella Lawson opened up on being 'really frightened' about joining the Great British Bake Off judging line up - as she opened up on her biggest concern about taking over from Prue Leith.
The TV chef took to This Morning, joining Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in the wake of the announcement about her new on-screen role on the Channel 4 show.
Nigella, 66, was confirmed as the new host after Prue announced she was leaving the show after nine years of judging alongside Paul Hollywood last week.
It's not the first time the chef has been a TV judge, having served as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia and a main judge on Australia's My Kitchen Rules.
Nonetheless, Nigella admitted she's still 'really frightened' about the idea of stepping into the role - which before Prue, 85, was previously held by Mary Berry.
She told Ben, 51, and Cat, 49, live on air: 'Prue is just fantastic, and Mary was fantastic before, so if I think about that I get really frightened.
Nigella Lawson has admitted she's 'really frightened' about joining the Great British Bake Off judging line up - as she opened up on her biggest concern about taking over from Prue Leith
'[Channel 4] have given me the honour of offering me this and I just want to do it as well as I can, become a part of it, enjoy it, and I'm very excited about it.'
Nigella, who has also hosted her own cookery programmes including Nigella: Cook, Eat, Repeat and Nigella Express, added that she is taking the new role 'very seriously'.
She continued: 'I am a teeny bit frightened, I'd be lying if I didn't say that, I am excited and I'm taking it very seriously - but it's about the programme, it's an institution of national treasure status, and it's about the bakers.
'I just want to be there and be part of it. It's good to have a change at my time of life.'
The most important part of the show for Nigella is being able to offer up a softer opinion to the bakers than her co-star and fellow judge, Paul, 59 - and give the bakers a chance to shine.
Nigella added: 'I'm not someone who looks for fault, I look for pleasure - that is my basic, I can't say it's a philosophy, but my basic attitude in life.
'Paul Hollywood is Mr Technical and I'm all about the eating - if I see my job as eating, it's not too daunting, I can eat.
'But it is very much about [the bakers] the show, and that's what I love about it - there's a lot of competition programmes can be a bit hard-edged but this isn't, and we need that.'
Prue announced she's leaving the Channel 4 show after nine years of judging alongside Paul Hollywood on Instagram last week
Even that isn't without trepidation, as Nigella admitted she will have to watch her 'clumsy' nature so as not to cause bakers any chaos in the tent.
She joked: 'I am the clumsiest person in the world so as long as I don't know any of their cake off the tables and the stands...'
Ben was quick to quiz Nigella on when fans could expect her to make her debut on Channel 4 screens - and she couldn't help but quip back at him that he'd have to wait.
'Do you know when you're starting?,' Ben asked, to which Nigella replied: 'Why should I tell you?' before clarifying: 'I do know a bit, I'm frightened of getting it wrong.
'It will start filming soon, though. I'll let you know the minute I'm in that tent!'
Meanwhile, Prue, who replaced former show judge Mary Berry in 2017, confirmed she was waving goodbye to the hit baking series, admitting it felt like the 'right time to step back' and make way for someone else to join the team.
Paul, 59, and show hosts Noel Fielding, 52, and Alison Hammond, 50, will remain on the show.
Prue took to Instagram to confirm her departure. She wrote: 'After nine series and judging more than 400 challenges, I have decided to step down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
'Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.
'But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.
'Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.'
Love Productions, who are behind the making of the Channel 4 show, said: 'From her genuine expertise and encouragement of the bakers to her ability to drop innocent innuendos that reduce the entire tent (and the audience at home) to tears of laughter, Prue will always have a piece of Bake Off’s heart.'
While Channel 4's Ian Katz added: 'Prue has been a joyous presence in the tent, pairing absolute culinary authority with great generosity and empathy for the bakers.
'We are grateful for her passion, her wit, her ineffable style, and all the summers she spent in the tent. She leaves an indelible mark on the show and all its bakers.
'We will miss her wry, gentle judgement but look forward to working with her on new projects.'
Bake Off last aired in September 2025 and came to an end in November when student Jasmine Mitchell was crowned the winner.
