BBC to defy its own chief and launch Bake Off rival to take on Channel 4’s new show

WHEN new BBC Trust chairman David Clementi said that a copycat of Channel 4’s Bake Off was off the menu, he was clearly talking to himself.

As official announcements for the new, revamped version of the baking show fast approach, I’m told plans have been plotted for the Beeb to launch their own rival.

Discussions at the highest level of the corporation have taken place as to what format the “direct competitor” would take and who would host it.

It’s thought that despite going head to head with PAUL HOLLYWOOD’s Channel 4 version, his old colleagues MARY BERRY, SUE PERKINS and MEL GIEDROYC will not be involved.

A source said: “Launching their own version of the show has long been rumoured since Channel 4 swooped in on Bake Off.

“But things have picked up pace in the last few weeks and very high-level discussions have happened where a BBC version of a cookery or baking show that would directly compete with Paul and Channel 4 has been seriously talked about.”

My personal opinion is they need to find a different format... Bake Off peaked with Nadiya Hussain

It comes as incoming boss David said that putting on an “absolutely similar” programme would be disappointing.

Talking last month, he said: “My personal opinion is they need to find a different format.

“My very personal view is that it peaked with NADIYA HUSSAIN. That’s a very personal view, not the BBC’s and good luck to Channel 4.”

The new BBC show would fill the gap left by the baking show that was bought by Channel 4 last year for an eye-watering £75million.

And I’m told it would be produced in-house by the company’s BBC Studios department, so they keep hold of the rights — unlike the old show, the format of which was owned by Love Productions.

A spokeswoman for BBC Studios said last night: “The nature of TV production means there are always lots of creative ideas in development but until ideas are commissioned we don’t comment on them. Nothing has been commissioned yet.”

Watch this space.

READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN

Jodie barred

JODIE WHITTAKER played a grieving mum in Broadchurch and her role in Trust Me looks grim too.

This first picture shows her as Cath, a fired NHS nurse weighing up her options over alcohol that clearly isn’t for sterilising wounds.

The BBC drama sees her take drastic measures to provide for her daughter.

The thriller also stars The Paradise’s EMUN ELLIOTT and The Inbetweeners’ BLAKE HARRISON.

He’ll cheer her up.

CBB star is an ex on the beach

NOTHING says “relaxing day on the beach” like blow-dried hair, a full face of make-up and a skimpy bikini.

BIANCA GASCOIGNE is obviously keen to show what the world’s men are missing out on – but it’s not clear who in particular she’s aiming it at.

It could be cage-fighter ex CJ MEEKS, who she was dating before she went into the Celebrity Big Brother house – and who was left humiliated when she cheated on him.

Or it could be footballer JAMIE O’HARA, who she had a romance with on the show before he dumped her unceremoniously just a week after leaving.

You couldn’t blame Bianca for giving him the cold shoulder . . . despite enjoying a warm front here during her Tenerife break.

Viewers' disgust at Taboo incest

GIVEN that TOM HARDY’s TV show is called Taboo, I guessed the drama would be addressing some controversial topics.

But the BBC1 thriller left fans stunned on Saturday night – with its inclusion of a particularly shocking incest scene between its two lead characters.

Tom’s character James Delaney was shown romping with his fragile on-screen half-sister Zilpha, played by OONA CHAPLIN.

And fans were left feeling “disturbed” by the dark clip, which saw James demand that Zilpha take off her “f***ing dress”.

One viewer wrote: “This incest is putting me off the show #Taboo.”

And another added: “I find #Taboo rather disturbing to watch.”

Despite this, Oona – who also played Robb Stark’s doomed wife Talisa on hit HBO show Game of Thrones – admitted that she thinks modern audiences are now generally unshockable when it comes to sex.

She said: “Sex has become a very public-display type of thing, so there are very few things that have remained taboo.”

“Where does the taboo lie now? I think it’s in incest.”

You can say that again.