Great British Bake Off bosses at war over Noel Fielding signing as it’s revealed a host of other A-list stars turned the job down
GREAT British Bake Off bosses are at war over the signing of hell-raiser Noel Fielding as host — as it emerged a string of A-listers turned the job down.
Makers Love Productions fear Channel 4’s appointment of the former drug user will risk the show’s popularity among children and grandparents.
Stars including Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Jamie Oliver rejected the presenting job, viewed as “toxic” now the show has left the BBC.
A Bake Off source revealed: “A lot of people at Love Productions are worried about what Channel 4 is going to do with their show.
“Noel is going to turn off a lot of the family viewing that made Bake Off such a favourite.
“But this is the risk of selling off a national treasure to the highest bidder.”
The Mighty Boosh star and QI’s Sandi Toksvig will replace Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, with Davina McCall and Kate Quilton also among the stars to say no.
A Bake Off insider explained: “Noel and Sandi are an odd combination and they certainly weren’t top of the list — or even tenth on the list.
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“Channel 4’s most loyal presenters were not interested. There was talk that replacing Mel and Sue was a toxic proposition.”
Noel, 43, was only picked after The Last Leg co-presenter Josh Widdicombe, 33, rejected the role at the last minute.
Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt, who secured the deal to poach Bake Off from the BBC in a £75million move, is said to have been behind the surprise signing.
Noel and Sandy, 58, have been hired alongside foodie legend Prue Leith, 77, who replaces Mary Berry, 81.
Paul Hollywood, 51, is the only member of the BBC team who went to Channel 4.
A Love Productions spokesman said: “Love Productions and Channel 4 jointly chose Sandi and Noel as presenters and they were the only pair an offer was made to.”
SANDI ODDS CUT
BOOKIES were forced to slash their odds on Sandi Toksvig fronting Bake Off after a flurry of late bets. Punters piled cash on the QI presenter, 58, landing the role just hours before Channel 4 confirmed her as co-host, suggesting a shortlist of those in the running had been leaked. William Hill cut odds on Sandi from 12/1 to 5/1 at around 9am on Thursday, ahead of the official announcement at 4pm. A spokesman for William Hill admitted the company lost a “small amount” but had avoided a major payout. He said: “The punts stopped at 5/1, which suggests that nobody was certain she had got it.”