The Great British Bake Off 2020: episode one – as it happened

3.19pm EDT 15:19

This theme tune makes my stomach turn even now. All 12 bakers will be vibrating as we speak.

What an opener, honestly.

3.17pm EDT 15:17

And finally… Bake Off starts

Oh my. Matt Lucas did a spoof of the Boris statement that took place immediately before.

3.12pm EDT 15:12

But only for the most talented, exceptional, handsome and humble bakers, right readers?

3.10pm EDT 15:10

In case you are wondering, Hollywood Handshakes are still possible despite the pandemic, even though they’ve considerably dropped in value in recent series.

3.06pm EDT 15:06

I’m not going to lie, this is the weirdest start to a liveblog ever.

Updated at 3.06pm EDT

3.03pm EDT 15:03

Boris gives his statement (delaying Bake Off)

Channel 4 is clearly reading the room.

2.53pm EDT 14:53

And in case you are wondering, Bake Off has been delayed because of the PM’s update on coronavirus. Channel 4 said earlier today that the first episode will air at 8:15pm. I know. Will 2020 ever catch a break?

2.50pm EDT 14:50

The Bake Off Bubble sounds like an excellent spin-off series. I’d definitely watch the Real Housewives of the Bake Off Bubble.

10.13am EDT 10:13

Hello and welcome …

… to The Guardian’s liveblog for The Great British Bake Off 2020 the start of which is slightly delayed by the intervention of our dear leader. You may notice that this is not Rhik Samadder – who is sadly indisposed this year. So instead you’ll have to put up with me, Scott Bryan. You may remember me from a technical challenge I tried that was so bad everyone thought the topping was kale when it was in fact, icing. We’ve all done it, right?

But it takes more than one man to replace the inimitable Rhik. Joining me will be Michael Chakraverty, who was a contestant on the 2019 series of Bake Off. In his own words, he was “a bit of a mess but had a lovely time”. We’re both looking forward to getting to know you all better as the series progresses, and we become increasingly invested in the programme while in the upcoming second lockdown.

We’re not the only new faces this year – Matt Lucas has arrived in the tent to replace Sandi Toksvig. A good move? Time will tell. But before we kick off with our commentary (and relatable memes), you’re probably wondering how Bake Off was able to film this year in light of well… everything. The answer was that they took all 130 members of the cast and crew and filmed it all in a giant bubble in Essex. That is also a sentence that wouldn’t have made sense six months ago.

Here’s a good explainer of how they did it.

Updated at 10.24am EDT