Great British Bake Off ditched BBC for Channel 4 as staying would have ‘killed it off’
WE all thought The Great British Bake Off would be a shadow of its old self when it moved from the BBC to Channel 4.
But it only moved because bosses thought staying put would kill it off.
Richard McKerrow — who owns Love Productions, the company behind the show — said of moving: “It was to protect the format for all sorts of reasons.
“It was not all about money. We felt the format was under threat at the BBC. It was not something we wanted to do. It was something we felt impelled to do. Channel 4 felt the safest place, as a public-service broadcaster.
“Not that there weren’t a few nervous times in the period post going to C4, but deep down we knew what the format was. It is about the baking and the bakers.”
The show was watched by 14million people in 2016 in its last episode on the Beeb before moving to C4 in a £75million deal.
Bosses at C4 barely touched the format.
One major change was the exit of Mary Berry as a judge, with Prue Leith coming in. That led to one of the great spoilers in telly history, as Prue accidentally tweeted about series winner Sophie Faldo hours before the final aired.
But there are no hard feelings from Richard.
He said: “I knew it was a mistake, a genuine mistake. Nobody had done anything wrong.”
Perhaps not, but maybe take away Prue’s phone ahead of finals week later this year . . .
Dates hol lot better
AFTER Channel 5’s Blind Date reboot failed to create any lasting matches last year, producers want to sex up the format by sending couples on glam foreign holidays.
Hosts Paul O’Grady and Mel Sykes will pack off the new partners to exotic locations including Cuba, Mauritius and Thailand in a bid to replicate the success of ITV2’s Love Island.
In the previous series couples only had a 90-minute date to get to know each other better.
Speaking ahead of the launch on Saturday, June 16, commissioning editor Sean Doyle said: “The only thing missing last year was love. I think personally the dates were a bit short.
“In series two we are trying to find love. The format is still in safe hands but it is slightly grubbier now.”
Must watch
WHAT? Secrets of the Chocolate Factory: Inside Cadbury, 9pm, Channel 5.
WHY? Time to stock up your treat cupboard as this docu, charting 200 years of the sweet stuff, is sure to have you reaching for a square.
No night off for GMB duo
PIERS Morgan’s dulcet tones are enough to get anyone out of bed in the morning – but they will soon be sending us to sleep, too.
Their show will go up against ITV2’s Love Island on June 28, airing on ITV1 at 9.15pm after England’s final World Cup group game against Belgium.
Piers said: “You know you think you’ve had enough of me in the mornings?
“Good news, Britain – you’re going to get a load of me in the evenings.”
I bet Susanna cannot wait.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Frey up for mis
THEY both won Baftas for Broadchurch and now David Bradley is set to be reunited with Olivia Colman in another major drama.
The screen veteran, best known as Walder Frey in Game Of Thrones and Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films, has been cast as Monsieur Gillenormand in BBC1’s version of Les Miserables.
He will appear in the six-parter, which is being filmed in Belgium, as the grandfather of central love interest Marius, who will be played by The Durrells’ Josh O'Connor.
David is the latest star signing for the Beeb’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, joining Olivia, Lily Collins, Dominic West and David Oyelowo.
Unlike the excruciating 2012 film version, they will not be ruining the story with any terrible singing.
Bizbit
THE BBC has dumped Springwatch spin-off Unsprung.
Viewers are upset at the decision to drop the half-hour special, which has been running since 2009.
The Beeb said the show has “enhanced its digital offering this series”.
Soapbox
DOUG admits to Lachlan in Emmerdale that he has flogged his motor to help raise cash for Terry.
Elsewhere, Sarah refuses to make peace with Debbie, and blames Joe for leading her astray.
Chas is thrown into panic when Paddy suggests they organise another scan.
In Eastenders, Jack accuses Keegan of stealing the cash from the club and wants to be told the names of the other people whose fingerprints were on the bottle.
Meanwhile, Kim goes to see Phil, convinced he knows Vincent’s whereabouts after he offered her a shoulder to cry on.
And Kush grows increasingly concerned about mum Carmel and begs her to talk to a counsellor.
Peston switch
YOU no longer have to hear Robert Peston while hungover on a Sunday morning.
His current affairs show, which used to be called Peston On Sunday, will now move to Wednesday evenings after ITV’s News at Ten.
The decision was made after Robert realised that the show got more viewers in a 10.15pm repeat than it did on Sundays.
The show will now be simply called Peston.
He’s like Cher.