The Great British Bake Off: Where do the leftovers go? (2024)

We'll take it, if there's some going 🍰

Author: Georgie HollandPublished 29th Nov 2023

When it comes to feel-good shows, we think it's safe to say that The Great British Bake Off is a top tier contender! After hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith gave us a thrilling 2023 series, we are already counting down the days for next year's show.

But as we wait, an age old question still haunts our minds... And our stomachs, for that matter - what happens to the leftover food once filming has wrapped?! Well, we've done some digging, and can now shed some light on the situation...

What happens to the leftover food on the Bake Off?

You will be happy to know that the goodies do not go to waste, as the leftover baked goods are shared between the crew and the bakers themselves. Bake Off's Chief Home Economist Faenia Moore told BBC Good Food: "It’s important for the bakers to eat what they’ve slaved over, so after each challenge I make up a 'baker’s basket' to go to their lunchroom."

Any food then left over goes to crew members, with former series four contestant Ali telling Birmingham Mail: "The cameramen literally stand there with forks in their back pockets, waiting to swoop as soon as filming stops."

It appears, however, that leftovers are but a myth in the Bake Off tent, with Ali admitting: "The cakes are meant to be taken to a lunch area where everyone can share them, but they don’t usually get that far because the crew eat them first."

How much food is left over on the Bake Off?

Well, as fans of the show will know, there are three rounds to be completed during one episode of the show - their signature bake, the technical and the showstopper. Of course, this means that there are three tasty treats produced by each contestant - with just one slice taken by the judges - so PLENTY of treats left for the bakers and crew to enjoy.

However, 2013's Ali also revealed that there are more baked goods than we may think, confessing that in order to test the ovens, the technical team bake a Victoria sponge in each one every day! That's a lot of cake...

Explaining the reasoning behind the mass cake production, he said: "They do that to make sure that all the ovens are working properly and no-one can blame a bad bake on a technical malfunction.

"And on the first day, everyone gets an hour practice run-through so they know where everything is."

So, there we have it! Although our dreams of finding a location filled with all the sweet treat leftovers we could ever imagine are shattered, we know they go to the hardworking cast and crew - well deserved, we think!

Check out the Bake Off cast for 2023 below:

Matty - WINNER

Age: 28
From: Cambridgeshire
Occupation: PE and science teacher

Dan - FINALIST

Age: 42
From: Cheshire
Occupation: Civil engineer

Josh - FINALIST

Age: 27
From: Leicestershire
Occupation: Post-doctoral research associate

Tasha - ELMINATED

Age: 27
From: Bristol
Occupation: Participation officer

Cristy - ELIMINATED

Age: 33
From: East London
Occupation: PA

Saku - ELIMINATED

Age: 50
From: Hertfordshire
Occupation: Intelligence analyst

Dana - ELIMINATED

Age: 25
From: Essex
Occupation: Database administrator

Nicky - ELIMINATED

Age: 52
From: West Midlands
Occupation: Retired cabin crew member

Rowan - ELIMINATED

Age: 21
From: West Yorkshire
Occupation: Student

Abbi - ELIMINATED

Age: 27
From: Cumbria
Occupation: Veg grower and delivery driver

Keith - ELIMINATED

Age: 60
From: Hampshire
Occupation: Chartered accountant

Amos - ELIMINATED

Age: 43
From: North London
Occupation: Deli and grocery manager

The Great British Bake Off will return to Channel 4 in 2024.

Now read:

Everything you need to know about Bake Off 2023

All of the popular TV shows looking for applicants right now

The Great British Bake Off: 17 things you didn't know about the hit series

How to listen to Hits Radio:

Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online or ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio'.

The Great British Bake Off: Where do the leftovers go? (2024)

FAQs

The Great British Bake Off: Where do the leftovers go? ›

Series four's Ali Imdad also confirmed where the cakes end up, which is pretty much in the mouth's of the cameramen. “The cameramen literally stand there with forks in their back pockets, waiting to swoop as soon as filming stops.”

Where does the leftover food from Bake Off go? ›

“They'd know the best ones, so they all descend on the bake,” she told Jimmy Carr on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2018. Faenia Moore, chief home economist on the show, agreed, telling BBC Good Food the leftovers are added to the crew's lunch. “Everyone gets quite excited,” she stated.

Where does the food go after Great British baking show? ›

What Happens with All the Bakes After Judging? First, they're taken to the back for beauty shots. Then they're fair game for the other contestants and the crew. "It is really important that the bakers actually have a chance to taste what they have been slaving over for three or four hours.

What happens to the food cooked on Great British Bake Off? ›

What happens to the leftover food on the Bake Off? You will be happy to know that the goodies do not go to waste, as the leftover baked goods are shared between the crew and the bakers themselves.

Who does the washing up on Bake Off? ›

According to Faenia, it was ― at least at the time of the BBC interview ― one woman named Iva Vcelak (though the runners helped to bring dishes to her two-sink system). “Lovely Iva does all the washing-up. The runners help, and we have a good system with two sinks,” she said, adding ” I just give Iva regular hugs.”

Where does leftover food go? ›

Less than 3 percent of U.S. wasted food is recovered (e.g., to feed people or animals) or composted, and the remainder is sent to landfills or incinerated. Food represents the single largest component (21 percent) of solid waste in landfills and incinerators.

What happens to the leftover food on baking shows? ›

As a result, there are often lots of leftover cake, biscuits, bread and other goodies throughout the series. But fear not, the delights do not go to waste - unlike MasterChef, the first pick of leftovers goes to the bakers themselves.

Do they wash their clothes on Great British Bake Off? ›

Bakers on "The Great British Baking Show" wear the same clothes for multiple days of filming. Speaking to Insider, contestants described the experience as "stinky" and "very dirty." Some bakers bought duplicate outfits or tried to wash their clothes in a bathtub.

Why do they wear the same clothes on the British baking Show? ›

The Great British Bake Off is usually filmed over the course of two days per episode, because of this, producers are very strict on having contestants wear the exact same clothes to avoid any mishaps with continuity and to make it easier to edit together.

Do Bake Off contestants bring their own ingredients? ›

Once in the big tent, all ingredients are paid for by production. Contestants are given a per-episode allowance and have to shop accordingly. You must stay in the same hotel as the other bakers. All bakers are picked up in the morning from their (paid for) accommodation and are transported to the tent for filming.

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.

Has anyone quit The Great British Bake Off? ›

Actor and comedian Matt Lucas is leaving as co-host of “The Great British Bake Off” after three seasons on the show, citing scheduling conflicts with his new series “Fantasy Football League” for Sky.

Where do the contestants on the Great British Baking Show stay during filming? ›

The show remained there until the pandemic hit, where they left to film in Down Hall Hotel in Essex. Whilst filming at the Essex hotel and spa, contestants and producers would stay on-site in order to maintain their 'covid bubble' and minimise the risk of outbreaks halting filming.

Do Bake Off contestants get hair and makeup? ›

GBBO fans will know that although filming takes place across two days, it feels like it's all done in the same day as contestants always have the same clothes, hair and make up for continuity.

Do Bake Off contestants get paid? ›

Do the contestants on The Great British Bake Off get paid? The answer to that is simply no - in fact, some are even left out of pocket for being on the show. Contestants have to pay for their own ingredients to practise at home, which can work out quite expensive.

Do they waste food on Bake Off? ›

The judges may only eat a mouthful of each bake, but none of the tasty treats go to waste as the crew quickly steps up to the plate after filming. According to Noel Fielding in the 2018 Big Fat Quiz of the Year, the leftovers of the leftovers keep Prue's pigs well-fed.

What happens to the losers cupcakes on Cupcake Wars? ›

Slater was a judge on the pilot, and on her website's FAQs, answers the question that, apparently I'm not the only one asking: “My grandpa wanted to know what we did with all those cupcakes. The ones that didn't go to the Alma Awards were eaten by the cast and crew. Yeah, that's right.

How much does Paul Hollywood get paid for bake off? ›

However, her pay from the famous baking show has been estimated to be around ÂŁ200,000 for each season. On the other hand, Paul Hollywood is said to have drawn a whopping ÂŁ400,000 per season according to his old contract with the show and the channel before he received a revised pay under the new contract.

What does chopped do with all the extra food? ›

Eaten by the crew: The crew members who are working on the show are allowed to eat the leftovers. Donated to charity: They will donate the leftover food to local charities or food banks, where it can be distributed to those in need.

What does bakery do with leftovers? ›

Bakers face the every-day challenge of baking freshly made cakes and tarts, pastries, loafs, buns and handcrafted sandwiches. With many items deemed unsellable after 24 hours, bakers dispose their day-old goods as consumers expect abundant supplies of day-fresh bread.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6451

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.