Channel 4 starts recruiting for next batch of Great British Bake Off stars – but BBC might block 2017 series

BAKE off will start filming in the summer in the hope that BBC bosses will allow Channel 4 to air a series next year.

Makers Love Productions, who sold the show to Channel 4 in a £75million three-year deal, has officially opened its application process for new bakers.

The contestants will be filmed competing in the tent in case they are allowed to air series eight in its regular autumn slot.

It’s still not clear whether killjoy BBC chiefs will stop it being aired next year as a previous contract gave them a “cooling off” option to stop another series on a rival channel until 2018.

But insiders say Channel 4 is “quietly hopeful” that fans will be able to see the nation’s favourite TV show next year.

A source said: “They think the BBC won’t mind them showing Bake Off because it has so many fans and people want to watch it.

“There’s no commercial clash with the Beeb, so it would only be out of spite if they enforced the rule that no show can be run until 2018.

“Filming will take place this summer so the new series will be ready regardless.”

The show will be fronted by judge Paul Hollywood, 50, after fellow judge Mary Berry, 81, and hosts Mel Giedroyc, 48, and Sue Perkins, 47, decided to stay at the Beeb.

A celebrity edition in aid of Stand up for Cancer has been confirmed for autumn 2017 on Channel 4.

A Love Productions spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are beginning preparations for the production of The Great British Bake Off Series 8.

“The precursor to every series is to find the next batch of wonderful bakers.”

A Channel 4 spokeswoman added: “We have not confirmed scheduling plans for the main series of The Great British BakeOff.”

In September, fans certainly didn't hold back on their opinions of Paul when he appeared on screens for the first time since announcing his move to Channel 4.

It's safe to say that fans were not happy with the baking judge, who is believed to be getting a huge £1.2million pay package over three years from C4 while Mary Berry remained loyal to the BBC.

Mary wished "the programme every success" and said that she was "sad not to be a part of it" but that her "decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty".

GBBO viewers started to lash out at Paul after he asked whether Benjamina whether he would "dump" her meringue on her citrus pie.

One fan commented in irritation: "Petition to dump meringue on Paul Hollywood's head."