BBC 'could launch rival Great British Bake Off' after Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc quit over Channel 4 move

Love productions sold the rights to the show to Channel 4 for three years
Top team: Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc with Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry
BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Emma Powell15 September 2016

The BBC could be planning to launch a cookery show to rival The Great British Bake Off following its move to Channel 4, according to reports.

Love Productions - the company behind the popular show - accepted an offer of £75 million to move to Channel 4 for three years.

Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins quickly announced they would not be moving to a rival broadcaster and fans feared for the future of the baking series.

But The Sun reported that BBC bosses could be planning to launch a new show under a new name with Giedroyc, Perkins and judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.

A source told the publication: "It's not beyond the realms of possibility.

“It is nearly impossible to protect a television format.

“Let’s face it, sticking four people in a tent and making them cook is hardly rocket science.

“Mary and Paul could do that under a different name, in a different location. It would be hard to argue.

“And it would save the hassle of uprooting to Channel 4.”

Giedroyc and Perkins – who entertained viewers with their endless baking innuendos – said they were “shocked and saddened” by the news, but could not be tempted by the "dough" on offer.

In a joint statement they said: “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.

The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue?

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“We’re not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success.”

Hollywood and Berry have yet to confirm their plans but Channel 4 bosses are reportedly fearing they too will quit.

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