BAKE OFF IS DOOMED!
Mel and Sue quit . . . Mary could be next . . . But whatever happens, says JAN MOIR ...
CHANNEL 4’s £75million takeover of The Great British Bake Off was last night thrown into disarray after two key presenters announced they are to step down as hosts after the end of this year’s series.
In a crushing blow to the broadcaster, Mel Giedroyc, 48, and Sue Perkins, 46, said they were ‘not going with the dough’ and had made ‘no secret’ of their desire for the show to stay with the BBC where they said it had been ‘nurtured’.
Their decision heightened speculation that fellow judges Mary Berry, 81, and Paul Hollywood, 50, will follow suit. It is under- stood that none of the show’s stars were consulted about the move to Channel 4.
Miss Giedroyc and Miss Perkins are also said to have quit without speaking to Channel 4 about a deal.
The BBC is understood to have offered £15million per series – double its previous terms – to keep the show, but baulked when show creators Love Productions demanded an estimated £25million a year.
Hollywood and Miss Berry have so far remained tightlipped about their future on the show, but Miss Berry’s husband Paul Hunnings told the Daily Mail: ‘ She’s [Mary] very happy with the BBC, put it that way.’ He added so far he did not think she was ‘signing anything’ with Channel 4 and that what her Bake Off colleagues chose to do ‘would be a factor’ in her final decision.
Channel 4 faced heavy criticism last night over the three-year deal which was announced on Monday night.
Former BBC Chairman Lord Grade said it had ‘shot itself very seriously in the foot’. Lord Grade, who is also a former boss of Channel 4, questioned if it was right for the broadcaster to outbid the tive and it has just splashed out, Corporation for a mainstream if reports are to be believed, show when its remit states it £25million on a show that really should be ‘innovative, experimenbelongs to the BBC. tal, and distinctive’. ‘I think they have completely
Speaking on Radio 4, he said: ‘I undermined their case against think Channel 4 has shot itself privatisation, that’s the first thing very seriously in the foot. It’s been to say, the second thing to say is I arguing very strongly for the last think the BBC are quite right not year or so against privatisation. to overpay for this product it
‘Putting up an argument that leaves a gap in the schedule and says its remit is for catering for they’ll invent another one.’ tastes and interests that are not Analysts questioned why Chancatered for on other channels nel 4 had paid £75million for the and being different and innova- contract without locking in the four stars, and described the exchange as nothing more than the ‘sale of a tent’.
Parallels were also drawn between Top Gear, which flopped on the BBC under a revamp and Chris Evans as host, despite the same format following the sacking of Jeremy Clarkson.
However a source at Channel 4 insisted there was no concern over the departure of Miss Giedroyc and Miss Perkins, pointing out that the format of the show has been sold to 23 territories worldwide with other presenters.
They added that they had gone into discussions with Love Productions with their ‘eyes fully open’ and were prepared for the presenters to opt out.
In a joint statement which reflected their irreverent style, Miss Giedroyc and Miss Perkins became the first of the Bake Off stars to reveal their position on the show’s move.
The pair, who have been with the show since the start in 2010 when its home was on BBC 2, said: ‘We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was. The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, grow- ing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 at its peak.’
They added: ‘We’ve had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.
‘We’re not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success.’
It is believed Miss Berry is expected to be influenced by their decision, as the presenting duo are understood to have been influential in bringing her onto the show at the start.
Broadcast agent Tony Fitzpatrick warned the show was destined to fail on Channel 4. He said: ‘Channel 4 appear to have paid £75million for a tent. All four [presenters] complement each other and bring a certain chemistry that is irreplaceable.’
Channel 4 – which is a publiclyowned and commercially-funded broadcaster – has gone from recording losses of £29million in 2012 and £15million in 2013, to declaring a surplus of £26million for the last year.
Given its not-for-profit status, any surplus is reinvested in making content, and the broadcaster now has more than £200million in reserves. A source close to the broadcaster said this means it is ‘well-positioned’ to make investments such as the one in Bake Off. The source added: ‘This was a deal for the format not the presenters.’