40 Rules You Didn't Know Contestants On 'The Great British Baking Show' Have To Follow
Sorry, Americans. You have to be from the UK to compete.
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For 13 seasons, The Great British Baking Show has drawn audiences into its whimsical tent to watch amateur chefs compete in challenges. The mouthwatering desserts are enough to inspire you to whip out your electric mixer and frost some cupcakes. But do you have what it takes to compete on the show? From 7 a.m. wake-up calls to one very specific rule about ovens, here's what you need to know before competing in The Great British Baking Show.
You have to apply online.
If you think you have what it takes to be on the show and wish to apply, it's as easy as filling out an online application. Make sure to check that applications are open, as they typically close in January.
You have to be at least 16 years old.
All perspective contestants must be at least 16 years of age to apply. If you don't meet the age requirement, you can try the show's spinoff program, Junior Bake Off.
You must be a resident of the UK.
Although the show is massively popular in the United States, the program is based in Britain—it is called The Great British Baking Show, after all—and aims to find the best British baker, so you have to be a resident of the UK to compete.
You have to be very detailed in your application.
According to contestant Sophie Faldo, the application is seven pages long and has you describe in detail your experience with baking. "Every section, like bread and cakes, and biscuits, has its own page and you have to say what your signature bake is and how often you bake it," Faldo told Radio Times.
You have to pass the interview round.
After your application is selected, all perspective bakers are asked to schedule a phone interview and later an in-person interview.
Your food has to pass a test.
All contestants must bring two of their best bakes to their in-person interviews. "You can bring anything you like," Sophie Faldo told Radio Times. "Producers advise that one bake should be sweet, and the other be savory."
You have to pay for the ingredients for your interview.
During the audition process, the cost of ingredients is not covered by production and contestants aren't reimbursed, even if they make it onto the show. Until you get into the big tent, it's all out of pocket.
You have to test in front of the camera too.
The final round of interviews is on-camera and it entails baking in front of production: "You have to bake something while you're there, to make sure you've not just been bringing in someone else's work," Sophie Faldo told Radio Times. "They have cameras walking around the place. I think it's to see that we were happy baking and talking at the same time, and whether we can cope with that."
You'll be contacted if you're accepted.
Per the show's website, if you make it onto the show, a producer will contact you with the next steps. Sadly, if you don't hear back by March, that means your application hasn't been accepted.
You must be available for every filming date.
If your application is accepted, a producer will provide you with the dates and must receive confirmation that you have no conflicts before moving forward. Filming each season takes up to 30 days over a 10 week period between April and August.
You must commit to filming 'The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice.'
All bakers are required to be interviewed for the spin-off show after the episode that they are eliminated in.
You can't have any connection to the show's network.
To keep the show fair, any employees of Channel 4 or their production company Love Productions are prohibited from entering the contest. Anyone who is financially connected or has a close friend or relative working at the previously mentioned companies aren't allowed to apply either.
You can't be a professional baker.
The program prides itself on showcasing the country's best amateur bakers. No one who's previously been employed as a baker, cook, or chef or received any sort of professional degree or qualification for baking is allowed to compete.
You must undergo a background check.
Before filming begins, production conducts a thorough background check to make sure your application is correct and that you're fit to compete.
You get limited time to prepare for the competition.
According to former contestant Sophie Faldo, the production team informs you that you've been chosen about six weeks prior to filming. "You know you're potentially in the running but they never really commit themselves until the very last minute," she told Radio Times.
You must sign a release form.
After being chosen to compete on The Great British Baking Show, production has all bakers sign a release form. No ifs, ands, or buts—you must sign to participate.
You must keep certain things confidential.
Contestants must remain tight-lipped about certain aspects of production and the application process. They also can't provide any photographs or videos of the competition to the media.
No phones are allowed.
For security reasons, you have to hand over your cell phone to producers before entering the tent, according to former contestant Karen Wright. This is a common practice on reality competition shows, as it helps prevent people from recording footage that could spoil the show.
Cameras are strictly off-limits too.
Again, the show restricts contestants from bringing any recording device, including cameras, into the tent.
You aren't paid to appear on the show.
Whether you win or not, bakers invest quite a bit of personal time to be on the show. However, they aren't financially compensated for their time.
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