HEY BBC, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!

[Jenise]

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37355065?post_id=1834801496750268_1834804333416651%3FSThisFB

British Channel 4 just bought the Great British Bake Off away from the Beeb. And hosts Sue and Mel won't go along for the ride. So it will go the way of Top Gear.

Maybe they can get Hammond and May to fill in while they look for permanent replacements?

Out of the Beebs hands...

They were forced some time ago limit inhouse programme making and instead buy from outside production companies: GBB format is owned by and is made by Love Productions, now part owned by Rupert Murdoch's Sjy Television, and Love has sold the programme to commercial C4 because the Beeb wouldn't pay the astronomical increased amount they were demanding.

But the hosts weren't included and all have previously stated how they like being on BBC. Two so far have said they won't go

Mel & Sues' statement - "We've had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps. We're not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success."

some headlines:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/201 ... lines.html

[Jenise]

Fun, Dale! Begs the thought that if Paul and Mary also refuse, channel 4's ardor will 'sour' and they'll give the show back.

Paul and Mary bailing out would be the end of it. Which makes you wonder why they'd take on the show with no guarantee that any of the principals come with it.

[Jenise]

Yeah, interesting to contemplate the mechanics of the deal.

Mary Berry just announced she isn't going to Channel 4 out of loyalty to the BBC. Paul is in talks with Channel 4 and bets are that he will stay the GBBO. But no Mary, no Mel and Sue......harumph....GBBO is going to go from a charming, funny, engrossing experience to a trendy, all younger folks, gloss with no charm or quirks, commercials with recap of what just happened after every commercial break...just a typical show. I had hope for Top Gear (okay, in hindsight, admittedly misbegotten), but have no hope for Bake Off now. Last night was the 5th episode of this season...so there's only 5 more episodes then it's curtains. Darn BBC

[Jenise]

Thanks for that update, Bonnie. Mary reportedly turned down 7 Million. But she's 81....

I also just heard that Paul has tweeted that he's "staying in the tent with the bakers where I belong"--so he's taking the 7 million. He's too young to pass up that kind of money.

Wow. That really does sound like it's over. On the other hand, it's kind of nice when a series ends while it's still good rather than chugging along until well after it's at all worth watching.