01 February 2024 , 18:42
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TV cook Prue Leith has vowed to stay with The Great British Bake Off, whatever channel it pitches its tent on.
The contract for the format of the show, currently on Channel 4 but which started out on the BBC in 2010, is up for renewal at the end of the forthcoming series – sparking speculation it could be poached by Netflix or ITV.
And last week, C4 revealed plans for its biggest layoffs in 15 years and a sale of its £90million London HQ to raise funds. But Prue, 83, said: “Oh my God, I hope to stick with Bake Off wherever it goes. But I don’t think it will move.
Prue with fellow host Paul Hollywood (Mark Bourdillon)“I know a lot of people are having a hard time of it and Channel 4 has lost a lot of shows. But I am quite sure while Channel 4 is there, they will hang on to Bake Off. It is certainly one of their best shows. I think it has found its natural home at Channel 4.”
In November, chief executive Alex Mahon said C4 was suffering from an advertising downturn and expected to make losses for the next two years.
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The broadcaster paid producers Love Productions £25million for the Bake Off format in 2016 – trumping the Beeb’s bid of £15million.