New-look show cooks up good ratings for Channel 4

Figures show an average of 6.5m people tuned in after big switch

The Great British Bake Off’s debut on Channel 4 attracted a bigger audience than any of the show’s launch episodes on BBC2 – but was well down on last year’s opener on BBC1.

An average of 6.5 million people tuned in to Tuesday night’s episode, giving Channel 4 its highest overnight audience for five years, the broadcaster said. The figure includes those who watched the episode on Channel 4+1.

Bake Off’s biggest overnight audience for a launch episode on BBC2 was 5.6 million in 2013.

By contrast, the show’s launch on BBC1 last year won an overnight average of 10.4 million – almost four million above the figure for Channel 4.

Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s outgoing chief creative officer, said: “I’m delighted millions watched the new team put 12 magnificent bakers through their paces.

“It’s the largest share of young audiences we’ve had for a show for over a decade.”

During the Edinburgh International Television Festival last week, she said she would be “absolutely delighted” if the new series was watched by “five, six, seven million” on the channel.

The series returned with three new faces in its line-up: presenters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding, as well as new judge Prue Leith. Paul Hollywood was the only member of the original team to move.

The episode’s ratings of 6.5 million is nearly double the number recorded for Diana: In Her Own Words, which had been Channel 4’s largest overnight audience so far this year.

The figure is likely to rise higher when the official consolidated ratings are published next week, which will include people who recorded the show and watched it up to seven days afterwards.

Picture: PA. Noel Fielding, right, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with contestant Yan during the first Channel 4 Bake Off.