When we found out that Channel 4 had poached The Great British Bake Off from the BBC, we were all up in arms about it. Not quite to the same level as we were over Brexit and Donald Trump, but the rage was palpable.
And, when we learned that only Paul Hollywood had decided to betray the Beeb and accept a contract with the rival channel, our thoughts immediately turned to Mary Berry.
After all, the Queen of Bakes had famously that her decision to stay with the BBC was “out of loyalty to them”.
“They have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one,” she said in a statement – which was released at the exact same moment Hollywood announced his intentions to continue on as a judge for a few more years.
So, when the Master of Bread recently revealed that he had sought Berry’s blessing, we were very intrigued to hear what she had to say to him, expecting something as cool and damning as a soggy bottom.
“I spoke to Mary Berry about it all the way through,” he said, according to The Express, when asked how he had made his choice to ‘follow the dough’ to Channel 4.
“And she said 'I would go too if I was your age’.”
She would have gone too if she was his age. The scandal!
Despite having the blessing of his beloved Bezza, Hollywood admitted that he’s still very “nervous” about channel hopping – even though very little about the show’s format will be changed.
And, in order to ease the minds of fans everywhere, Hollywood added that his decision to leave the BBC had nothing to do with the channel; he remains utterly loyal to Love Productions, who have ownership of GBBO.
“I can't really say too much but none of us were involved in the negotiations,” he said, explaining that he has no direct contact with the BBC himself.
“You have the production company and then you have the channel. I always work for the production company.”
Meanwhile it’s been revealed that the BBC have already lined up their own replacement for Bake Off, which is set to air next summer.
Even better? It seems as if they’re set on reuniting the original GBBO gang for it, too.
That’s right; it’s been heavily hinted that Berry will be taking on a starring role in the new series, alongside GBBO hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who also refused to accept a new contract with Channel 4.
We imagine that Berry will have her hands full, as she’s also been offered a special Christmas show with James Martin for the Food Network, as well as two further television shows with the BBC.
It looks like she definitely made the right decision for her own career. However it remains to be seen whether Hollywood’s three-year deal with Channel 4, rumoured to be worth around £1 million, will pay off too…
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