No more Great British Bake Off until 2018
Channel 4 has hinted that there is only a celebrity special planned for next year
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There will be no more Great British Bake Off until 2018 after the current series ends, Channel 4 has hinted.
The broadcaster secured the rights to the hugely popular baking show earlier this week after the BBC was unable to reach a financial agreement with producers Love Productions. It is thought that Channel 4 will be tied to a “holdback” clause in the previous contract, which states that there must be a 12-month gap before the show airs elsewhere.
Usually, agreements are made to override this clause, but Channel 4 insiders have indicated that there are “no plans” to broadcast a full series in 2017, with only a celebrity special for Stand Up to Cancer in the pipeline so far.
Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins both promptly quit following the news that Bake Off would be bidding goodbye to the BBC but it remains to be seen whether judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will follow them out of the tent.
Last year, Berry described the four-person team as “a family”, stating that “if they want us to do something we either all say no or all say yes”.
Fans are already worrying that the show is fated to go the same was as Top Gear, which suffered a ratings disaster after Chris Evans was drafted in to replace Jeremy Clarkson as presenter.
Tonight’s Bake Off will see the contestants attempt to make Yorkshire Puddings as part of the first ever Batter Week. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates.
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