BBC loses Bake Off

The BBC has lost its contract to broadcast The Great British Bake Off.

Statements from both Love Productions – which makes “The Great British Bake Off” – and the BBC confirmed Monday that the two organizations were not able to reach an agreement for broadcast rights beyond the seventh season, which is now airing in the United Kingdom.

The 46-year-old star, who co-hosts the long-running cookery competition with Mel Giedroyc (48), took to her Twitter page this evening to share a post from the BBC’s official press page, which lamented Love Productions’ decision to part ways with the network.

The Great British Bake Off – fronted by Mel Gedroyc & Sue Perkins and judged by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry – has always been a ratings victor for the BBC, with the current season having recently launched to more than 13 million viewers.

‘We will now be focusing on finding a new partner to develop the familiar show that the British public turn to in their millions.

However, creative director McKerrow said on Monday night that he was pleased to have found a new broadcasting partner.

But it sounds like the Bake Off has a new home.

The opening show of the current series, the seventh, was watched by an average of 10.4 million viewers.

It’s expected that the next series of the show will go to an independent broadcaster, most likely to be ITV, reported The Telegraph, after the BBC admitted their resources ‘were not infinite’.

Channel 4 and Love Productions, which produces the hit show, have signed a new three-year deal, according to the TV channel.

The first show on Channel 4, to be broadcast next year, will be a celebrity version in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. “We hope Love Productions change their mind so Bake Off can stay ad free on BBC One”. The company’s management said after months of negotiations, the BBC was unable to match its valuation and vision for the show.

Bake Off continues on BBC One on Wednesday evenings from 8pm… for the time being. Do we really want the sanctity of this attractive show and it’s pristine, kitsch atmosphere to be tarnished by something as tawdry and bad as public vote-offs? This is a legacy from “Bake Off’s” unusual provenance, as it was originally commissioned by the BBC’s documentary team in 2010.

The show sees up to fifteen amateur bakers compete each week to create the best confections, which are carefully judged by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.