ITV turned down The Great British Bake Off – because it knew the stars weren’t signed up

“You really are buying baking powder and a tent.”

Unless you’ve been living in a Bundt cake-shaped hole, you’ll know that The Great British Bake Off hosts Mel & Sue have decided not to follow the show to Channel 4, suggesting that the BBC was its natural home.

Part of the kitchen furniture, Mary Berry will also not be returning to the show when it moves to Channel 4 – but Paul Hollywood will be.

And now, ITV boss Kevin Lygo has revealed that he turned the chance to put in an offer for Bake Off because the producers told him there was no guarantee the talent would be attached.

Speaking to Broadcast, the channel’s director of television said: “You really are buying some sort of baking powder and a tent.

“I said, ‘If you can’t guarantee it, then no, it’s not for us, thank you very much’.”

He described the show’s switch to Channel 4 as “just a really weird screw-up”, adding: “It will be studied by television sociologists in years to come, I suspect, about what the f**k went on with that show.”

However, he went on to add: “The BBC should think why did they lose it really. They should ask themselves that pretty closely.”

Paul will be the only remaining star of the BBC show when it moves to Channel 4 after this year, and a spokesperson confirmed to Digital Spy that he’s signed a three-series deal.

“Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life,” Paul said. “The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories.

“Best of all, I have felt so pleased to experience other people getting the baking bug, just as I did when my dad helped me make my first loaf.”

Love Productions’ creative director Richard McKerrow said that he was “delighted” Paul had decided to stick around, promising that it won’t mean too many changes for the show we know so well.

“Paul’s presence will ensure the culture of Bake Off continues in the tent as it makes its move to Channel 4,” he said.

The current and final series of The Great British Bake Off on BBC One is airing every Wednesday at 8pm.

Source: Digital Spy.