The presenters have been a formidable team, with their “good cop, bad cop” approach and their many double entendres.
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Off screen they have been friends for many years after meeting when they were students at Cambridge University.
Dad-of-five Jamie Oliver is reportedly a contender for the role on GBBO, after it was revealed how much he and his family enjoy the Bake Off, and how much he would love to be a judge.
The BBC is understood to have offered Love a deal worth £15m to secure the future of the show.
Channel 4 has signed a three-year agreement with Love Productions.
Speaking about the situation at MediaCon, taking place in Dublin’s City Hall, Jo said she would defy anyone that suggested the programme wasn’t a BBC show – despite changing channels. “The BBC’s resources are not infinite”. BBC was hopeful that Love productions would relinquish the rights to the show as it was “quintessentially BBC programme”.
The move is a huge blow to many fans as Perkins and Giedroy were the bright comical lights on GBBO.
A source has told the publication: ‘Mary and Paul believe Mel and Sue set the tone of the show.
The channel move will see Bake Off remain on free-to-air television.
Simon Rimmer, who is already on Channel 4 as the host of Sunday Brunch, is second favourite to become a judge, should Hollywood and Berry quit, with odds at 7/1. They’ve tipped former Celebrity Masterchef victor Lisa Faulkner as the most likely to take over, but they also reckon Bake Off victor Nadiya Hussain is in with a shot, as well as Channel 4 favourites Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer.
News of the Bake Off leaving for commercial station Channel Four was called a “disaster” by the British press.
However, it seems that her husband Paul Hunnings has spoken out on her behalf and has seeming confirmed that Mary is staying put and will NOT follow the show to Channel 4.
The show kicked off with the two of them throwing around some potential names for the hot TV gig before they declared: “We are in the mix at 100/1 and we can officially announce…”
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“We’ve got to say we are in the mix at 100-1 and we can officially announce today that.it’s not going to be us”.
