Great British Take-Off

BBC promised not to copy Bake Off. But new cooking show has Mary as judge…with Strictly Claudia mixed in

FOR Great British Bake Off fans, it is a reassuringly familiar recipe: Mary Berry as judge, a group of amateur cooks in fierce competition, and the frightening prospect of a soggy bottom.

But yesterday the BBC was forced to insist it was breaking new ground, as it unveiled its plans for a Bake Off rival next year.

The eight-part series, Britain’s Best Cook, will follow a similar pattern to its predecessor, pitting ‘ truly great home cooks’ against each other in a very British competition.

However, instead of challenging contestants to make sweet treats, it will test their all-round cooking skills with dishes like roast beef and chicken curry.

Miss Berry, 82, will be the lead judge – reprising the role she had on Bake Off. And, as if those similarities were not enough, the BBC added that the series will include baking – and could even be filmed in a marquee.

This time, however, the show will have just one host – Claudia Winkleman. The Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter, who was last month named as the BBC’s highest-paid female star on up to £500,000 a year, will be effectively replacing Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.

Miss Berry will also have a cojudge, who is yet to be named.

The announcement has sparked claims that the BBC is reheating leftovers. Not only that, a row may be brewing between the broadcaster and its chairman.

Sir David Clementi told MPs before he took up the role in April that he would be ‘disappointed’ if the BBC came up with a ‘copycat’ version of Bake Off, after the show controversially moved to Channel 4 earlier this year.

Yesterday TV insiders echoed his concerns, as they slammed Britain’s Best Cook as ‘completely unoriginal’.

A source said: ‘The BBC keeps on saying it wants to make “distinctive” programmes, but I don’t see how this fits that description in any way.

‘ This has clearly been constructed around Mary in order to repay her for staying at the BBC.

‘They could have at least picked an unknown host for the show.’

However, the BBC last night insisted that the new show is a departure from Bake Off. A BBC source said: ‘It’s not just baking. It’s Mary returning to her forte of home cooking – her first love.

‘It’s everyday cooking like roast beef. There will also be some baking, I’m sure.’

The source added that it was too early to say where it will be filmed, saying: ‘I don’t know if it is a tent or a house. It is still early days.’