BBC’s contract for The Great British Bake Off has been seized by Channel 4 after the failing to pay almost £1 million per episode. Channel 4 announced last night they had won the rights to broadcast Britain’s most popular show, in a three-year deal.
Last-ditch talks held between the BBC and Love Productions, the show’s creators, but the BBC’s offer was rejected. It is said Love Productions wanted the BBC to quadruple the money paid for the rights to broadcast the show. The fee demanded was almost £1million per episode bringing the overall cost of producing the 10 episode series and the masterclass spin-off to £25 million. The deal includes 40 hours of programming annually and including a series of professional and celebrity specials.
The BBC said in a statement that the corporation made a “very strong offer”, but the two sides were “a considerable distance apart on the money.”
Chief creative officer of Channel 4, Jay Hunt said “Channel 4 is very proud to be the new home for The Great British Bake Off. I'm delighted we have been able to partner with the hugely talented team at Love Productions to keep this much-loved show on free-to-air television.”
In the news deal is it unclear if the Bake Off judges and presenter would move to Channel 4. Judges Mary Beard and Paul Hollywood and presenter Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc have all expressed their desire to stay with the BBC, previously. The BBC however, still will broadcast The Chronicles of Nadiya, the cooking show by the 2015 Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain.
