The Great British Bake Off has announced a major change to the iconic baking tent. The Channel 4 show has been filmed at the Down Hall Hotel in Essex since 2020 with the judges, presenters and contestants all living there for over six weeks.

But Bake Off is moving its iconic tent to a new location for this summer’s series – ending the strict “Covid bubble” that has existed for two years. This year, the hotel’s 98 rooms and 110 acres of parkland are available for reservations all summer long, suggesting the show has moved on.

A spokeswoman for the show said, “We won’t be filming in a bubble this year, but protocols will be in place to keep everyone safe.”

READ MORE:The children of BBC Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory pay their respects at a moving memorial service

A source told the Mirror: “The whole team, especially Prue [Leith], found it very difficult not to be able to return home every week. They are delighted that this year it will go back to how it used to be, when they shot on weekends and could go on weekdays.”

Last year, host Noel Fielding was joined by his partner DJ Lliana Bird and judge Paul Hollywood by his girlfriend Melissa Spalding. Matt Lucas also replaced former co-host Sandi Toksvig in 2020.

Fellow judge Prue said: “I remember saying, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to go into a bubble with three men, none of them adults. But actually, it was lovely. One of the things that was a huge relief was how much Matt [Lucas] and I went up.”

In 2021, the series was won by Italian baker Giuseppe Dell’Anno who took the whole show by storm. Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood crowned him the winner ahead of fellow finalists Crystelle Pereira and Chigs Parmar.

Stay up to date with all the latest news and opinions on going out, parties, shopping and more with our Daily What’s On email update newsletter – and it’s completely free.