The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

With the recent news now that Mary Berry is leaving GBBO (Great British Bake Off: Mary Berry leaves but Paul Hollywood stays - BBC News) I can't help but marvel at how badly Channel 4 has completely botched this.

The BBC wasn't willing to up their fee for carrying the show... they're currently showing it for I can't remember the number offhand, a few million, they offered £15M but the production company Love Productions (lol) wanted more... and Channel 4 offered them £25M.

You'd think Channel 4 would have checked if the hosts and judges were actually UNDER CONTRACT before ponying up that amount of money.

So GBBO moves to Channel 4, gains commercials, loses hosts Mel and Sue, and now loses Mary Berry. They've at least retained Paul Hollywood. Because he's such a bright and shining personality in the tent. /s

I personally love GBBO but am now watching this season with a hint of sadness as I suspect it'll be the last season that is actually decent, as I suspect it'll go to sh*t when C4 takes it over. Somehow, Paul announcing "Ready, Set, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE" won't have quite the same charming delivery.

Your thoughts?

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

You watch too much TV.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I've heard that Jamie Oliver is tipped as a replacement for Mary Berry.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I've not read into the legalities, but I suspect they were either tied in for X amount of series, had an exclusivity deal with the beeb (unlikely) or had a break clause for events like if the network changed. Just guessing here.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

There does seem to be a lack of looking forward by C4 with regards to the hosts/judges. I like Mel and Sue but I reckon that they could be replaced with someone as good, just slightly different. I had also heard that Jamie Oliver was rumoured to be considering the job, not sure how true that is, I think that he would bring a new edge to it. Hollywood thinks way to much of himself and someone who is IMO a better presenter, if a little irritating at times might bring him back to earth. It isn't like the Top Gear scenario, it will survive and evolve I reckon.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Oh probably... but wouldn't C4 perhaps have conversations with the hosts or generally work out if they can keep the same formula if they take the series? At this point it seems like they're paying an insane amount of money for the title of a show, they could have saved themselves a ton of money by just making a new baking competition show. (See: American Idol / The Voice / America's Got Talent / The X Factor / etc etc etc)

What makes GBBO the GBBO is the judges and hosts. Without them it's just a baking competition show.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

This. And who the hell are all these people?

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Whatever! If you don't watch the show then get out of the thread! :lol:

I've posted about ONE show and just curious to know other people's thoughts since none of my friends here watch this show and I'm curious!

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Fanny Craddock and The Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr) perhaps? :rofl:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

No, it would be between C4 and Love productions execs, Chinese whispers aside I'd assume the talent agents would find out after the fact.

Someone posted this pic on Facebook earlier, I've added it as I think its relevant for you ;)

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Calm, calm, calm, you'll be just fine in the morning. :nod:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

GBBO started the year we moved to Canada so I only started watching last year, after watching the Comic Relief version. Does seem Channel 4 have been sold a pup though, someone must be very cross somewhere over there. Lovely show. And I haven't watched pastry week yet so no spoilers.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Some asshat on my Facebook posted a spoiler, I was beyond pissed. It's a good episode though, I watched it last night. :)

Someone else posted on Facebook "C4 paid £25M for Paul Hollywood and a tent." It made me chuckle. :P

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

It'll be different for sure, but I'll probably still watch it. I'm not a big fan of Mel & Sue, find them cringe worthy at times (though I prefer Sue to Mel) so I won't miss them. It's a shame Mary won't be continuing.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I love it and I think its very sad!

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

It will still be on though a revamped version- just need to choose the replacements carefully

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

There's a petition to get Ainsley Harriott involved (I used to like him on Ready, Steady - Cook) and rumour has it that Jamie has ruled himself out.

:)

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Thank goodness for small mercies.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott? Dear god who next? The stars are supposed to be the contestants, not narcissistic obnoxious loudmouths with no baking skills! Scraping the barrel or what! It's going to be shite :(

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Many of the participants on this thread really do need to get out more....😉

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

This! This, in spades!
Mary Berry is a baking goddess of long standing. She's in her early 80s (I hadn't realised she was as venerable as all that!) and - although she has written and presented on general cookery topics as well - has been dealing with cake-related stuff for a living for sixty years or so. Neither Oliver nor Harriott have the baking chops to comment as incisively or from such a position of knowledge.

Hollywood, while his style can be a bit grating, is at least a baker of renown. His fellow judge needs to have equally as solid a background in baking. The presenting job is done by the other two; they are the viewers' surrogates, asking the dumb questions and expressing awe at the creations that emerge from the oven; they shouldn't be bakers. But the judges need to know exactly what they're talking about and be able to identify technical faults in the preparation techniques and baking skills of the contestants.

How about one of the previous series' winners coming back to judge the next one? It really doesn't need to be an established star (and, frankly, in the world of GBBO the previous winners are already stars anyway!)

ETA: I haven't watched any of the current season; I watched most of last summer's after my mum had persuaded us to find it on iPlayer while she visited... after she returned to the UK I found myself watching the last few episodes to see how it finished. It's a proper BBC show - unashamedly middle-class, a spirit of friendly competition, carries out the Reithian inform-educate-entertain thing well enough. Can't see how it fits C4's brand style at all. I suppose the production company will cut the cloth to fit the new frame...

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

They could re-brand it, get Gordon Ramsay on it, have him shouting "IT'S RAW!!!!!" and sell it to the US TV market lol.

I mean I hope to god they don't, but I think anything can happen when it's C4.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Ya Miserable auld trout :cool:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I ****ing hate Jamie Oliver and his smug fat face.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I hear Chris Evans might be available. He's done C4 before, so there's a feather in his cap. He ****ed up one great show, so why not continue a tradition.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Me too!

I've only just started watching it, so I probably won't miss it.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I do love Mary Berry though. The first time we saw the bakeoff my son said "Hey, that's grandma on the tv". The resemblance between my mom and Mary is remarkable.

Oh and Paul Hollywood is a bit of alright IMO.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I like Mary Berry too. I'm also a fan of Paul Hollywood and those gorgeous blue eyes :flirtyeyes::wub:.

Perhaps I should go for Mary's job. After all I did go to catering college and have a degree in Home Economics :nod:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

My partner has the Paul Hollywood blue eyes and salt & pepper hair. :wub:

I always thought that I would like to teach home economics.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

for the fans of the show, season 7 has just ended - so do you want to watch it before it shown on PBS?

Project Free TV :: The Great British Bake Off Season 7

BTW, the winner is

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37786108

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I hope we get it on PBS, it's a wonder Netflix hasn't got it.

I too am a fan of Mary, and Paul and fear that Jamie O would be ghastly!

I need to get out more, but am not exactly spoiled for choice here...I was asked if I wanted to join 'some girls' for radio bingo recently :unsure: hell, and you wonder why I prefer GBBO...

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I streamed it on Exodus , via Kodi, as an alternative .

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Ive been watching it on You Tube

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

:lol:

Although in this case the doctor was missing for a while. :nod:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I was in stealth mode ;)

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

I was in stealth mode ;) The key to being a good doctor sometimes is to listen, observe and not open yer gob

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Piff Poff I owe you a very large drink and a very big hug :drinkingwine:

Thank you so very much...I never knew it was on You Tube :o I had a blissed out evening and watched Episode 1 and 2 :starsmile:

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

Oh you are more than welcome, I get to watch the final tomorrow :)

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

The winner was see it's even safe, this time, to look at the spoiler.

Re: The [Formerly] Great British Bake Off
 

:thumbup: nice to hear from you Mike!:thumbup: