Coronavirus scare almost shut down Great British Bake Off filming

Filming for the new series of \'The Great British Bake Off\' had to be paused at one point due to a coronavirus scare.

Producer Kieran Smith has revealed filming was halted for a day after someone on the set showed symptoms of the virus, but fortunately they tested negative and production was able to resume.

He said: "Somebody spoke to our medical team because they were showing symptoms that could have been Covid.

"We had very strict protocols about what to do. They were isolated immediately, as was anyone who had been in close contact with them.

"They were tested immediately. We paused filming for an afternoon. The test came back negative and we resumed filming the next day."

Prior to filming the new series, the show created a "self-contained biosphere" between the cast and crew to enable shooting to go ahead over the course of six weeks.

While Kieran has admitted "everything was complicated" about the biosphere, host Noel Fielding was "a lot happier" in the bubble.

The producer added to Radio Times magazine: "Noel felt a lot happier in the bubble than he did in the real world.

"He\'d pretty much been shielding in one location for several months, so the ability to walk in a green space and be able to talk to people face-to-face was liberating.

"It was the same with quite a few others. By the end, I was desperate to get out, but there was a freedom to it as well."

\'Bake Off\' is to return on September 22nd on Channel 4, and the contestants include a bronze resin sculptor, an accountant, a project manager, and a music teacher.

Noel and newcomer Matt Lucas will present the programme, and Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will return as judges.