It's been one of the most shocking stories in TV for quite some time, but the Great British Bake Off's shock exit from the BBC is still making waves.
A report in today's Daily Record has claimed that the reason Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins' exit from the show wasn't just to do with it moving to Channel 4, it was because of both pay AND timing. GBBO, as we know, was sold to Channel 4 for £75,000,000 - topping the Beeb's offer of £45,000,000 and earning Love Productions, the company behind GBBO a nice, fat payday.
Many on the show, including Mel and Sue, felt that this would mean a nice pay-rise on the cards for them as both earned approximately £100,000 per series. Insider sources said that Mel and Sue were "furious" as they were only told about the deal hours before the news was reported on.
It's also understood that ITV didn't make any offer on the show as they were skittish about GBBO without Mel, Sue and others confirmed as part of the deal. Already, former winners are speaking out in defence of Mel and Sue, saying that the show is nothing without them. 2011's winner, Jo Wheatley, told the Daily Record that she "can’t imagine Bake Off without them. They will be hard to replace. I was anxious filming, but Mel and Sue’s humour and relaxed approach made me feel totally at ease."
No air date has been set for Channel 4's version of Great British Bake Off, nor has there been any word on who'll be replacing Mel and Sue.
Via Daily Record
