BBC lose Great British Bake Off

What about James Martin taking over? He loves his butter and doesn't stinge on the sweet things or preach to anyone like Jamie would do. And he is far more sexy! And missed since giving up Saturday Kitchen.

Well, Mary Berry has announced that she will be staying with the BBC out of loyalty. So that's 3 of the 4 presenters leaving the show. Will Paul Hollywood follow? Will the show survive?

Taken time to make a deal with the Beeb? Lucrative new programme in the offing?

Paul was photographed coming out of the back door of the C4 offices yesterday.

Change any of the people and personalities and the GBBO will simply not be the GBBO. What drew people in from the moment it started was its artlessness. It never tried too hard to sell itself. Mary was the long time professional who was firm and encouraging. Paul was for me, just a foil, to balance the judging and be the 'bloke who knew a bit more about bread'. It was Mel and Sue's idea and they wanted Mary from the start. The whole village fete idea of it being in a tent somehow worked and added to the homely atmosphere. Its always been a gentle hour of escapism into a world that does not really exist. The baking is often a disaster (the artificial times issues add pressures that would not happen at home) but it does not matter - the contestants just want to be apart of the whole thing and when it leaves the BBC it will just be something completely different. Sorry - I'll not be watching.

Paul has now confirmed he will go to C4 with the show. Not a big surprise really.

From Twitter

!Paul is OK, it's the recipes I'm interested in, so will probably still watch. I'll miss Mary though.
I found something on youtube suggesting that Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders would be good as presenters. Evidently they took part in the red nose day edition of Bakeoff.

I probably won't bother with it.

humming, 'Say Goodbye to Hollywood'

Ooo yes James Martin please

Gerroff! He's mine!

I wonder if Nadiya will be offered the job of Paul's sidekick on ch 4. I think she would be excellent.

They could have different presenters each week for the Mel and Sue bit. Susan Calman, who I often hear on the radio is very funny. Or the presenter who does the Extra Slice programme, whose name evades me.

I think Extra Slice is going to 4 as well ?

An apt comparison by the TV columnist Christopher Stevens: "it'll be like Ringo Starr with three session musicians, climbing back on stage and calling themselves The Beatles."

Well, it would have to if it carries on, wouldn't it?

(to aggie)

Bored by Bake Off on BBC. CH4 might bring a bit more life to it. They certainly did a good job with the Paralympics.

Really, who cares? I couldn't be less interested. With all the concern about the national obesity epidemic, and people are worried about a programme about - baking? I've never watched it. I don't know all the people you're talking about. The BBC puts on some excellent wildlife programmes, but as for all the rest - no thank you.

Rosieroe ha ha! Good one!
I'm really pleased Mary has stepped out, she has gone back up in my estimation (I thought she was staying and was very disappointed in her before!) Paul staying does not surprise me, he seems that sort of person.

Personally, I think the show has run its course now anyway. Channel 4 has bought a turkey - just in time for Christmas.

I'm not in the least interested in baking either and suspect that the majority of the huge viewing figures aren't either but there's something captivating about this programme. The recipes right. Now its having the ingredients altered it won't be the same. It'll be like a victoria sponge without the jam and cream and served up on a tin plate.

Although I do watch it I'm not that keen on any of the presenters. I've never liked Mel and Sue's humour and I think Mary and Paul are a bit boring. The only thing I don't like about it going to Ch four is the ad breaks and then we have a re run of what we've just watched (in case we've forgotten) I record every show I watch on tv that has adverts and that way I can fast forward through them and the blasted re- caps.

without Mary Berryand Mel and Sue it won't be worth watching....

Goodness such diversity of vitriol and praise! Is GBBO really that important? I am a gradual convert having originally dipped in and out and then actually started to enjoy the gentle pleasantness of the show in general and ended up as a regular viewer when I'm available. What I'm really looking forward to is what the ingenious BBC will introduce us to next. After all some of us will recollect the ridicule of 'an hour's prime time programme on baking'? Unbelievable! Well...............

kitty ha ha. Whenever James is on TV, my DH says 'your boyfriend is on' I wish

I wondered if Nadiya would be offered the job too.