Paul Hollywood signs deal to judge The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4

Mary, Mel, and Sue have all announced they won't be returning to the show

Paul Hollywood has signed a deal with Channel 4 to host The Great British Bake Off, a spokesperson has confirmed.

The news comes just moments after Mary Berry announced her departure from the Love Productions show.

The duo hosted the show since its inception in 2010 alongside Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, both of whom have also departed the show.

Hollywood released a statement thanking Channel 4, along with Mel and Sue, but - surprisingly - not Berry.

The statement reads: “Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life. The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories. Best of all, I have felt so pleased to experience other people getting the baking bug, just as I did when my dad helped me make my first loaf.”

“I am delighted that I will be continuing as a judge when Bake Off moves to Channel 4. I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding.

According to Mail Online, Hollywood was spotted rushing from a blacked-out car into the Channel 4 offices yesterday. The report detailed how a 'secret meeting' between the two parties was taking place to discuss Bake Off.

Previous reports claimed he was unlikely to remain with Bake Off, mainly because Hollywood was said to be in talks with the BBC about his own car show. Hollywood and Berry are said to have been offered large sums of money to stay on.

The BBC has since confirmed to The Independent that Hollywood will be staying with the show as a judge for at least three seasons of the show.

As of yet, there is no indication as to what programmes are in the BBC’s mixing bowl, although various reports have suggested that Simon Cowell has already pitched a new baking show to the broadcaster.

Love Productions announced that the Bake Off was to move to Channel 4 last week after the BBC lost its rights to the most-watched programme of 2015.

Numerous meetings were not enough to save the BBC's partnership with the production company, which cited concerns over the broadcaster’s valuation of the show, as well as the development of the brand.

Meanwhile, the director of content at the BBC, Charlotte Moore, has spoken about Berry’s departure in a statement, hinting at further shows with the Bake Off star in the future.