Paul Hollywood has revealed that he taught hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas to drive during The Great British Bake Off filming.
The judge, 54, said that the The Mighty Boosh star, 47, and Little Britain actor, 46, didn’t have driving licences so he decided to teach them.
The latest series of The Great British Bake Off took place at Down Hall Hotel in Essex with all cast and crew living together in a bubble for six weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Driving teacher! Paul Hollywood has revealed that he taught hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas to drive during The Great British Bake Off filming (pictured in 2017)
Paul has revealed that he taught Noel and Matt to drive around the 110 acres of land in go karts with Matt even wanting to take his test now.
He told the Mirror: ‘Neither of the male hosts have actually got a driving licence. So I was trying to teach Matt a few little tricks on the go kart and how to drive it at speed. But it was, it was fun. We need a challenge actually.
‘Now he wants to do his test. The buggies did the trick.’
With fellow judge Prue Leith adding to the newspaper: ‘I tell you what, Matt got to drive just as fast as Paul Hollywood. In the end, he was zipping around with that bug. And I kept thinking, “That’s a guy who can’t drive!”‘
Co-stars: The judge, 54, said that the The Mighty Boosh star, 47, and Little Britain actor, 46, didn’t have driving licences so he decided to teach them
It comes as Channel 4 scored a huge ratings hit with their 2020 series of The Great British Bake Off.
It’s been revealed that the first episode of the new series, which aired on September 22, had the biggest ratings of any programme – excluding films – to be shown on Channel 4 since 1985.
According to the broadcaster, consolidated viewing figures for the series 11 debut were 10.8 million.
The TV premiere of the film Four Weddings And A Funeral on Channel 4 in 1995 attracted a higher audience of 12.4 million.
Car fan: Paul has revealed that he taught Noel and Matt to drive around the 110 acres of land at Down Hall Hotel in Essex in go karts with Matt even wanting to take his test now (Paul pictured in 2016)
The biggest-ever audience in Channel 4’s history remains 13.9 million, which was for the mini-series A Woman Of Substance in 1985.
The show was also the biggest overnight launch audience for the series since its move from the BBC, with overnight ratings averaging 6.9 million viewers.
The cooking competition left BBC One in a £75million switchover in 2016.
The first episode of the new Bake Off series saw Matt Lucas make his debut on the programme as he replaced previous co-host Sandi Toksvig, joining co-host Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
They’re a hit! It comes as Channel 4 scored a huge ratings hit with their 2020 series of The Great British Bake Off
The start of the debut episode for series 11 was delayed by 15 minutes to make room for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address at 8pm, which three million people tuned in for on Channel 4.
Bake Off played up to the schedule clash, opening the episode with new presenter Matt impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to ‘Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves.’
The series had already seen it’s start date pushed back by a month from its usual late August slot after filming was delayed by lockdown.
The production worked to ensure COVID-19 restrictions would not impact the close-knit nature of the show.
Light-hearted relief: Bake Off opened with new host Matt impersonating a bumbling Boris Johnson who urged viewers to ‘Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves’
All 12 bakers, presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding, judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood along with the entire crew lived together in an isolation bubble for six weeks in order to film.
The production took over luxury hotel Down Hall in Hertfordshire with all cast and crew living together on site for the duration of the shoot, undergoing regular COVID-19 testing and living away from their families.
This allowed the bakers and the judges and presenters to forgo social distancing in the famous tent.
Great British Bake Off continues on Channel 4 on Tuesday nights at 8pm.
Get set, bake! According to the broadcaster, consolidated viewing figures for the series 11 debut were 10.8 million