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THE GREAT BRITISH Bake Off is departing the BBC for Channel 4 – and this evening hosts Mel & Sue have confirmed that they won’t be “going with the dough” and following suit.
The BBC said earlier it had lost the rights to GBBO, which it has broadcast since its first series in 2010, picking up fans all over the world. Channel 4 offered more money to programme maker Love Productions.
The publicly funded broadcaster said in a statement that ‘Bake Off’ is “a quintessentially BBC programme” but “the BBC’s resources are not infinite”.
The BBC took the show — in which amateur bakers compete to create elaborate cakes, tortes, trifles and flans — from niche curiosity to cultural phenomenon.
Its successful recipe blends old-fashioned Britishness, a diverse array of contestants and a sprinkling of saucy humour.
More than 13 million people watched last season’s finale, won by Nadiya Hussain — a headscarf-wearing Bangladeshi-British baker who has been hailed as an inspiring symbol of 21st-century Britain.
Double entendre-loving co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins said they would quit rather than make the move.
“We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home,” their joint statement said.
“We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was.
“The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 at its peak.
“We’ve had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.
We’re not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success.
News of the show’s move from the Beeb has made headlines around the world today.
Meanwhile, a former contestant, Richard Burr, tweeted that “Without Mel and Sue it just isn’t Bake Off” – while the presenting pair also picked up support from fellow comedians online.
There’s no word on whether the show’s baking judges, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, will make the move to Channel 4.
With reporting from Associated Press
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RIP GBBO
I think Mel and Due are as good as Ant and Dec. They should do more shows together.
*Sue
“…..as good as Ant and Dec” Worst. Recommendation. Ever. Lol!
As good as Cannon.and Ball..better?
As good as Little and Large?
How about the Crankies? :)
They recwntly did a daily chat show together that failed miserably.
It won’t be as enjoyable to watch without Mel & Sue’s little quips, and then of course on C4 there’ll be all the stupid ads spun through it. The show will probably sink when it moves . . . Just like one of them less than successful Victoria sponge cakes, when they opened the oven door to soon.
Maybe they should present Top Gear seeing how it was a half baked effort last season
“A head-scarf wearing Bangladeshi baker”?!
I am so saddened to hear this…love Mel and Sue just won’t be the same without them..wonder what Paul and Mary will do…hope production company see sense….they may regret moving to Channel 4 without the original presentets
Maybe Mel and Sue have signed separate binding contracts with the BBC not to work for rival broadcasters. When Big Brother moved from Channel 4 to Channel 5, Davina McCall couldn’t move with with it, she could only present Channel 4 shows. She went on to present other Channel 4 shows like The Big Drop.
They will be on the breadline in no time.
A fundamentalist Muslim is being hailed as an inspirational symbol of 21st century Britain? Sounds about right
Aldough there was love there there was dough there to dough.
She isn’t a “fundamentalist Muslim” she a muslim’ and you are a bigot!
Homer’s imp son?
More like Homer’s gimp son.
making cakes is prime time tv…..thanks be to jebus for netflix
Never mind sure we still have the great Irish bake off eh? No ? Eh ?
Is ” goatee ” aka Paul Hollywood leaving too? And the old dear??
Read the article.
I’m sure Irish Water and/or the government are to blame for this debacle!
Swing and a miss
If you can’t stand the heat ……..
Hate this show. How fan you fill an hour critiquing a flan?
Great, It’s going to take about 3 hours to show it if they want to fit all the content with the ad breaks. Plus Paul and Mary have other shows on BBC so I can’t see them moving. Looks like the end of the road.
What a Relief – What an Article – d 2 of them.
Soggy Bottoms, Creamy Buns….oh, how hilarious !
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