Former runner up Jane Beedle offers a sneak peak behind the Bake Off curtain ahead of new series starting in September.
In a world where reality TV is often dominated by feuds, fiery arguments, and dramatic meltdowns, The Great British Bake Off has become a national treasure thanks to its gentle charm, feel-good vibes, and a wholesome focus on cakes, bakes, and creativity.
Since its debut, the Bake Off tent has seen its fair share of change. The show moved from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, and its original hosts Mel and Sue were replaced by Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, then Matt Lucas, and now Alison Hammond. Mary Berry’s departure was also a big moment, with Prue Leith stepping in to join Paul Hollywood at the judging table.
But what’s life really like inside that iconic tent? Jane Beedle starred on the show in 2016 and was joint runner-up with Andrew Smyth to the winner, Candice Brown.
Reflecting on her time on the show with Betway Casino, she lifts the lid on the show’s lesser-known secrets, from off-limits areas in the tent to the real cost contestants face when creating their spectacular bakes.
What was your first impression of the Bake Off Tent?
It was exactly the same size and look as it appears on TV, which is reassuring. It makes it feel familiar and, in a way, that puts you at ease. But they don’t let contestants go behind the scenes. There’s a huge dresser in the tent that contains all the washing up, as well as the monitors and equipment. We were never allowed beyond there because I think they wanted to keep some of the magic of television alive for us.
Were there any strict rules in place?
We did have to sign NDAs to not speak about the show. In theory, they’re lifetime NDAs. I can talk about my experience, but things have obviously changed since my season, as the show has moved channels and has new hosts and judges. I had a wonderful time too, so there’s nothing negative to say. But yes, we did have to sign NDAs.
Did the Bake Off team supply the ingredients, or did you bring your own?
They do give you money towards ingredients, and they would supply cake tins. I don’t think we realised at first that they would compensate us for things. If you wanted to buy a fillet steak rather than butternut squash for a recipe, that would probably have been on you to sort. Where I lived in Kent, I wanted to use some of the wonderful fresh fruit we have. So the team would attempt to source certain ingredients and find a particular display item.
Did you stay together during filming?
Yes, my series of bakers did. We’d shoot for two days and usually stay in the same hotel for two nights. The crew and the talent stayed somewhere separate.
Did your cast of bakers get on well?
We really did. When the numbers started to dwindle, we’d unwind after a day of filming by getting room service and gathering in one person’s room. We were often so tired after a full day, so there weren’t any wild parties.
How did you pass the time on set between takes?
As with any TV show, there was a lot of waiting around. Especially when there were 12 bakers and they had to film individual reactions. We’d often play board games, and Selasi (Gbormittah) would sing!
Have you all kept in touch?
Yes, we have a Bake Off WhatsApp and not a day goes by that someone doesn’t message. Tom (Gilliford) was one of my dear friends. Andrew (Smyth) has moved to Holland. Candice got married in France in 2018, and we all travelled up to attend. I was one of the older contestants, and some of the bakers were my children’s age, but we had the best fun. We just clicked and felt like we’d all known each other for years.
Are the blind technicals really blind?
Oh yes! Production does not help at all. I remember we were in a green room in the early stages and found a Mary Berry cookbook in this bookcase. We started reading through it to see whether we could guess a technical topic or brush up on our knowledge. But we were all mic’d up, so production twigged and swiftly removed all the recipe books after that.
Did you get to spend time with the judges off-screen?
No, we were kept away. The team were very strict about fraternising as they didn’t want judges to ever be accused of favouritism. I’ve heard viewers comment on Paul Hollywood fancying contestants, but none of that happens. He would get chaperoned over to the bench for judging and taken away again. The only time we ever saw Paul without the cameras was after an awful bake. We’d all done terribly, especially me. He was smoking outside the tent, and someone joked that cigarettes would spoil his taste buds. He turned to me and said, ‘I had to get the ghastly taste of your bake out of my mouth’. He was joking, but it was hardly what I needed to hear at that moment!
What happens to the bakes after filming has finished?
It’s a great question as there is often so much leftover, especially in the early stages, with so many bakers. We’d often get a small bit of each other’s bakes to taste, but the crew would jump on them. They would descend like locusts!
You made it to the final. What was that day like to film?
Amazing. Your family and friends are on set to cheer you on. They’re practically having a party while you bake your showstopper. Every time I’d leave the tent to go to the loo, the crowd would cheer! Sadly, as soon as the judges announce the winner and filming wraps up, everyone goes home. So the friends and family get a party, but the finalists don’t!
Do you think the show has lost a bit of its appeal?
I think it tried to become a bit clever a few years back. It was asking contestants to attempt these hugely technical bakes, and that lost the connection with the audience. I can see they’ve gone back to the show we know and love. But it’s been on our screens for 15 years. That’s a long time to be watching a show. I do think it’s lost a bit of the sparkle, and I’m grateful I was on the show during its glory days. I used to get stopped everywhere, and fans were so wonderful.
What do you make of the new hosts, Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond?
They are magical together. A great combination. I loved Mel and Sue too.
What were Mel and Sue like during your series?
We got to spend more time with them than the judges. They were so down-to-earth and kind. When you saw them reassuring us on camera, that was all real. They were that genuine. They were naughty too and would often have to reshoot because they’d messed around or laughed. Never ask Mel to help you with a bake, either. She once dropped my scones in the sink! But they were wonderful. A year after the show had wrapped, I found myself working with Sue on a charity fundraiser. I brought my son Henry along to help carry the equipment, and despite Sue only meeting him once, she greeted him so warmly and remembered his name.
What was the application process for Bake Off like?
You have to fill out a very long application form. You talk about your experience with baking and how it affects your life. The application probably takes about five hours to fill out. It’s very thorough! I applied a few years earlier and didn’t get through because I hardly had any photos of my bakes. The second time I applied, I made sure I included lots of photos. I then got a phone call from producers to chat. They wanted to make sure my personality was a good fit. Then you have to head to a centre in the UK and do a technical challenge in front of the cameras.
How was it being in front of the cameras for the first time?
During that audition, it couldn’t have gone worse. I had some jam boil over, and then I short-circuited the fancy hob they’d given me. I also produced the most horrific sponge. Candice (Brown) was in that audition round with me, and she managed to make the most beautiful sponge wearing bright red high heels. I laughed off all the incidents, and I think that’s what got me through. You just have to try and have fun with it.
How long did it take from the first application to episode filming?
It depends on when you apply, but for me, I applied in November and found out in February that I would be on the show. I then had about five weeks ahead of filming in April to prepare all the recipes I would be using on the show. You had to get them perfect and write them out as recipes. You also have to share a full list of ingredients and equipment you’ll need. My poor husband was constantly running out to supermarkets during that time to get me caster sugar. It was so stressful to get prepared in such a short time.
What part of the process did you find the most stressful?
The five weeks we had to prepare every recipe for every episode before filming started. It was a lot. But I think my season got off lightly. I know other contestants have suffered from trolling in the years since. Some contestants on my series had to deal with a higher level of fame. Selasi, for example, had people turning up at his relatives’ homes in Africa. But I was one of the older ones, so I doubt anyone cared that much about me!
