Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders along with kitchen legend Delia Smith top targets for Great British Bake Off
Channel 4 bosses are keen to sign big stars for the next series following controversial purchase of the show last month
COMEDY duo French and Saunders are wanted by Channel 4 for the Great British Bake Off.
Bosses, who bought the BBC show for £75million last month, believe the chemistry between Dawn and Jennifer, both 58, would breathe new life into the format.
And they are also hoping to land kitchen legend Delia Smith, 75, to replace Mary Berry, 81, as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood, 50.
A Channel 4 insider told The Sun: “The pressure is now on to sign up the best team possible for the show when it makes its debut on Channel 4.
“The bosses want a real baking legend to replace Mary and Delia is topping the list there, as her cookery books are an absolute kitchen staple.
“She would be a really credible choice. And Dawn and Jennifer would be a dynamite signing.
“Not only are they absolutely hilarious, but they have wonderful chemistry, which is what viewers really loved about Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
“Those are very much the top three at the moment. But the team are going to be considering the options carefully.
“They need to make sure they really get this right.” Last night Mary, who is quitting Bake Off along with Mel, 48, and Sue, 47, reckoned Nigella Lawson, 56, or Saturday Kitchen presenter James Martin, 44, would be ideal replacements for her.
She said: “I admire Nigella very much. I think she’d be wonderful.
“James Martin is wonderful. They’re all specialists in their field.
“I’m just a family cook with recipes with not too many ingredients.”
A Channel 4 spokesman said: “We are taking our time to find the right presenters and judges for Bake Off. We have not approached anyone about the roles.”
