It’s been a week of bad Bake Off news, with Sue and Mel dropping out of the show after confirmation of its move to Channel 4.
Advertisement
They said: “We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home”.
Weve had the most fantastic time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.
Speaking on Premier’s Inspirational Breakfast, Benjamina said: “It’s quite exciting to know that we’re going to be the last BBC bakers”.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Ms Hunt said the programme’s makers will be the key ingredient in its future success, while the move will keep it on free-to-air television.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Mary and Paul have always stressed they would stand by Mel and Sue as they see them as family”.
The BBC offered Love Productions an estimated £15 million per year – double the current contract – in a bid to keep hold of the show, but producers refused to accept offers below £25 million.
Since its debut on BBC Two in 2010, and subsequent move to BBC One in its fifth season, the baking contest has been one of the network’s greatest hits.
According to the online magazine, the BBC was involved in a “secret legal row” with Love Productions back in 2014 over a hairdressing competition called Hair, which originally aired on BBC3. “We love it just as it is”.
But it is understood Love Productions refused to entertain any offers below £25m per year. Through their cheeky baking one liners and charm they’ve gained a huge fan base and helped to establish Bake Off as a much loved series.
The first episode broadcast since Channel 4 announced that it had poached the hit programme was watched by 10.3m viewers on BBC1, hitting a peak of 11.3m, the largest audience so far for the 2016 series.
“The four of us, Mel, Sue, Paul and me, are a team”.
That’s the hashtag being used by angry fans of “The Great British Baking Show”, who have been making their feelings known after a shocking development Monday.
Series seven is now airing on Wednesday nights at 8pm on BBC1.
Advertisement
She said: “I had a great time on Bake Off”.
