UPDATE: Channel 4 has poached the rights to Great British Bake Off, following its cancellation at the BBC, in a three-year deal. The renewal sees GBBO move to Channel 4 through Series 10.
The BBC has cancelled its flagship baking competition series The Great British Bake Off after seven series, after losing rights to broadcast future seasons of the show.
The current seventh series will be the last at the BBC, though producers Love Productions are hopeful of cooking up an eighth series elsewhere, with rival broadcasters ITV and Channel 4 both said to be in the mix.
Breaking news of the cancellation via an internal email to staff, the production company said:
“[We’re really saddened by this outcome because we always wanted to stay on the BBC … this has never been about who might write the biggest cheque, but about where we can find the best home for Bake Off.
In a statement, the BBC said it made a “very strong” offer to hold onto GBBO and urged Love Productions to return to the negotiating table to keep the show “ad free on BBC One”:
Statement on Great British Bake Off: pic.twitter.com/j4D0mMoqmN
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) September 12, 2016
RIP.
Will GBBO rise again elsewhere? Stay tuned as we monitor the cancellation escape hatch…
Janice I Bellinger says
Wow what a bummer! This show by far is one of the BEST shows to come out of the BBC. It was addicting. Looked so forward to each week. I cheered for all of the contestants. Didn’t like to see any of them have to leave. It had everything including a bit of history. Plus gorgeous hosts LOL The BBC really screwed up in my opinion.
Barry Etheridge says
Don’t blame the Beeb. Blame C4’s mad head or the Government’s mad Culture Dept with whom the responsibility so clearly lies.
Mary D says
Love this show , glad channel 4 picked it up. Now my question is when can we expect to see it?
Barry Etheridge says
The hacked about version interrupted by adverts and recaps by an as yet unknown presenter speaking to as yet unknown judges will no doubt be on a similar schedule to the present one (filming from April, showing from late August). Whether, once it’s become apparent that it has no audience it will be able to maintain a primetime slot is doubtful. My guess is that the first series on C4 will also be the last whatever!