The news has proved heart-baking to the army of 10 million-plus United Kingdom viewers, and their hopes – and cookies – crumbled even further when hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins announced Tuesday they will be quitting at the end of the current season, in the wake of the move to Channel 4.
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“They repeatedly talk about how they are a family and they both credit the show’s success down to Mel and Sue as well as the format”.
Channel 4’s chief creative officer Jay Hunt stated “Channel 4 is very proud to be the new home for The Great British Bake Off”. Do you enjoy hearing British people say the word “sponge” in a anxious tone?
In a statement, the pair said they were “shocked and saddened” that “Bake Off” was leaving the BBC.
However, Channel 4 don’t seem to be one bit anxious because Bake Off has several versions in other countries with different stars and the shows still work.
Its other two hosts, professional bakers Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, have not announced if they intend to remain with the programme when it moves to its new home, Channel 4. The BBC said in a statement that despite the popularity of the show it could not justify so much license fee payer’s money on one show when they have very limited budgets. The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of 2 million to almost 15 million at its peak. Fittingly, they wrapped up their statement with a volley of baking puns: “We’ve had the most unbelievable time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps”.
They also have plans to air a celebrity version of the show in aid of Stand Up To Cancer next year.
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After the BBC failed to secure the rights to the show, the production company behind the series, Love Productions, went with the highest bidder which was Channel 4. Neither knew the show would become such a huge hit when the show started out and this past year contract renewals began between the producer, Love Productions, and the BBC to continue airing the show.
