BAKE OFF SHOCK
French and Saunders in £2.5m snub to host show
DAWN French and Jennifer Saunders were offered £2.5million to host Channel 4’s new Great British Bake Off but turned it down, according to reports.
The comedy duo were presented with the sweet deal to replace Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins on the hit baking show when it returns on its new channel later this year.
But a source close to them said: “It was never a viable option. A lot of money was offered, but Channel 4 has bought a turkey.”
The pair are thought to have enough on their plates already. Saunders, 58, is said to be worth about £20million, while Vicar Of Dibley star French, 59, has recently signed up to host ITV’s new child talent show Little Big Shots.
It is believed that Bake Off’s makers, Love Productions, which sold the show to Channel 4 for a reported £75million, targeted the duo as their No 1 choice.
A Bake Off insider said: “They would have brought in the viewers but it wasn’t to be.
“An offer was put in, a pretty high offer at that, but it wasn’t enough. The impression was that, actually, no amount would have been enough.”
Love Productions has denied the claims. A spokesman said: “This is untrue. French and Saunders were not formally approached.”
Last week, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding were unveiled as the show’s new hosts.
The pair will be joined by cookery writer, Prue Leith, 77, who will step into Mary Berry’s shoes. Paul Hollywood will be the only original Bake Off presenter to feature in the Channel 4 series.
The new look line-up has already received a lukewarm reaction from Bake Off fans, with many taking particular objection to edgy comic Fielding.
However, Fielding and Toksvig will be paid handsomely for their new roles, with both set to earn considerably more than their predecessors.
The format of the new show is yet to be confirmed but it is rumoured that Love Productions will stick with the tried and tested formula.
In previous years, 12 eager hopefuls have entered the Bake Off tent in the first episode, with one being eliminated each week.
The final three then battle it out in the grand finale.