BBC lose Great British Bake Off

Beckham your description of what happens before and after the adverts is exactly why I won't be watching it on C4. We never watch shows with adverts (we download them with the ads removed). There will be far less content once ads are factored into the timing.

The GBBO was the most watched show on the BBC in 2015, so it's clearly not past its sell by date. Plenty of viewers are non-bakers like me and to call it a cake show is ridiculous. It's about skills, knowledge and personalities.

Good for Mel and Sue for saying they won't be following the dough.

Jamie Oliver has expressed an interest, he would have the charisma but can be annoying.

Forgive me if I'm repeating or contradicting something already said as TBH I haven't read all the posts.

There were lots of people knocking GBBO and its presenters at the start of the current series, as well as slurs on last year's winner. IMO it's the right time for a revamp and I think selling it to Channel 4 might be good. I shall certainly give it a try, which I doubt I would do if it was going to ITV.

I'm pleased Mel and Sue are leaving it as they're past their sell-by date on GBBO but I think Paul and Mary should stay, to get it established anyway.

Jamie Oliver? Not for me - I feel he works too hard at trying to regain his original TV persona. Gordon Ramsay? - no thanks. Nadiya? Now there's a thought ...

Agree with Ana. If they cut the BBC Executives salaries/bonuses they would not have this problem. Personally I would scrap the licensing fee so that they could compete with the others and use advertising to subsidise their costs.

Bless her she needs the money to keep up with the false eyelashes, false nails and hair extensions.

I was listening to an interview on the radio this morning and Richard Osman (in his capacity as producer/director/presenter) was explaining why he thinks GBBO will do well on Channel 4. he said that channel 4 need a much lower audience figure (I think 4 million was mentioned) to make ends meet rather than the huge figures needed by the BBC. He also said that Channel 4 can afford to let it run and run and will be looking to make a lot of money on the back of the show with GBBO products. It was a very interesting interview actually.

See?! All is well!

Yes, turns out they don't need us anyway!

Nadiya is a judge on Junior Bake Off, which has yet to be aired. If she did well it is quite possible they would choose her for the adult version. There is no Channel 4 kids' channel so she would be free! I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mary backs down, it must be a huge commitment at her age.

Rumour is no matter what the BBC offered, the price would have been higher.

As much as I love Nadiya, she doesn't have the depth of experience to judge the main show. It doesn't need chefs as judges. It needs judges like Paul Hollywood with a bakery background, someone who understands the chemistry of ingredients. I suspect he'll go with the show to C4. Mary is more easily replaced, but I think she'll step down and just carry on with her own shows.

I do find it amazing that so many contributors to grantsnet seem to be damming Mary for her age.
Aren't we all getting older, isn't she a good ambassador for us more experienced and sophisticated women?
My teeth, hair ect. aren't quite as perfect as they used to be good on her for showing the country that we are still a gorse to be reckoned with

Well said PamelaJ1

We are the last people who should be condemning an older woman for trying to look her best without looking like mutton dressed as lamb - and for working!

Leave Mary alone

She's a to personality now. You like her or you don't. Can't stand her myself. Encouraging others to eat high fat high sugar, but only nibbling herself.

Let's see if she "goes with the dough".

tv not to

I find it irresponsible and hypocritical.

I enjoy Bake Off and like some of the humour from Mel and Sue. The programme needs an injection of humour. The stress levels in that tent must be dreadful. For those who don't like it, fair enough, don't watch it. I can't abide soaps, so depressing that I haven't watched them for years. Maybe they've improved but they corner a lot of viewing time. Hooray for freeview so we can avoid programmes that we don't enjoy.

She always recommends a small portion and advocates exercise.

I have never heard Mary Berry encouraging people to eat a lot of fat and sugar, only heard her advocating portion control.

A little of what you fancy does you good, or so my DM used to say. Perhaps she was irresponsible too.

I have made some of her other recipes (not cake!) and they were a bit more time-consuming than normal but delicious.

Maary Berry's been quite open about her eating habits - a lot of soup, apparently. She must get fed up with people asking her how she stays so slim!

I am about to order my soup-maker NOW!
then perhaps I can have a nibble of cake

It's the programme. And she makes loadsamoney from it.

The advocating portion control is a cover for the hypocrisy.

What can one say to that!!!

I'd be much more concerned about the hypocrisy of 'women's' magazines and programmes like 'Lorraine' which preach constantly about the 'perfect' body, fashion, celebrities etc. and then bombard with recipes and food. At last with bake off you know you're getting CAKE! With SUGAR! And lots of ICING! And Mary Berry's in her 80's, she EATS CAKE and thus far has lived a healthy life.

Exactly jings

I think
Maybe she is a "feeder". Maybe her DH (Paul) is 30 stone.