Bake Off, the most watched show of the year
THE Great British Bake Off final attracted a record audience to watch glamorous PE teacher Candice Brown crowned champion.
Nearly 15million tuned in on the night in what was likely to be the most-watched non-sport programme of the year.
The figures marked a fitting farewell to the show’s seven-year run on the BBC and piled pressure on Channel 4, which has bought the rights to the show.
Some 14.8million watched the moment Miss Brown, 31, was crowned champion, and an average of 14million watched the episode. When those who view on catch-up services such as iPlayer are included, the total figure is expected easily to exceed the 15.05million who watched last year’s final won by Nadiya Hussain.
Bake Off fills the top five most watched non-sport shows of the year so far, beaten only by some Euro 2016 football games and Olympics events. Fans said they were devastated that it would be the last time they saw Mary Berry, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins in the tent as all three are staying with the BBC.
However, they will get two more instalments on the BBC – a pair of Bake Off Christmas specials which are likely to be one of the main festive TV attractions.
But fans are demanding more. They want the BBC to make a spinoff show about Miss Brown and fellow Bake Off finalist Jane Beedle, 61. The pair, who became close friends during the series, announced at the end of Wednesday night’s show that they will be going on a tour around Europe together, which set to feature them shopping for antiques as well as baking.
Since then viewers have been urging the BBC to film the trip and turn it into a programme.
One suggested it would be a popular idea, writing on social media: ‘So what’s the odds of “Candice and Jane’s Baking Road Trip” being a new @BBCone show in the spring?’
TV insiders said they were certain that the idea was being discussed at production companies.
Viewing figures for Bake Off are expected to plummet when production company Love Productions moves the show to Channel 4 in 2018, with many predicting that a mere two or three million will watch each episode, as only judge Paul Hollywood staying on and the programme will be interrupted by advertising breaks.
However, when asked what she thought of the move to Channel 4, Miss Brown told BBC News: ‘I can’t wait for the next series to see what they do with it.’
Offers from publishers and TV companies were expected to flood in from the moment Miss Brown was announced as the winner of the seventh series.
She has been described as a ‘young Nigella Lawson’ and the most marketable winner of Bake Off, for her stylish appearance as much as her baking ability.
Fans have been so desperate to know which lipstick she has been wearing each week that it is a strong possibility she will bring out her own make-up range.
As a sign of what is to come, Miss Brown, from Bedfordshire, was in high demand yesterday, with interviews on Radio 1, Radio 2 and ITV’s Loose Women, as well as attending a signing session in London for a Bake Off recipe book.
She sparked rumours she had got engaged to boyfriend Liam Macauley, 30, after turning up to the book signing wearing a ring on her wedding finger. But last night a BBC publicist denied the couple had become engaged.
Miss Brown has been in a relationship with Mr Macauley since 2012. He has previously served 16 months in jail for dealing cannabis, although it is understood that he committed the offence several years before be began dating Miss Brown.
Although the BBC is losing Bake Off, the corporation may have the last laugh after all. Its commercial arm has confirmed it holds the rights to sell the format abroad until 2028.
BBC Worldwide has already sold the show’s format to 23 countries in deals worth millions, and is unaffected by the change of broadcaster for the main UK series. BBC Worldwide will retain the rights and will soon begin negotiations for the rights to sell the UK show – as broadcast on Channel 4 – abroad too.
A spokesman said: ‘BBC Worldwide continues to hold international format rights (excluding North America) for Bake Off for the next 12 years. BBC Worldwide additionally has an exclusive first negotiation position with Love Productions for the international distribution of future series of The Great British Bake Off.’
‘What are the odds on road trip show?’
‘BBC still holds world rights’