After months of speculation, Channel 4 has announced the new line up for The Great British Bake Off.
As rumoured, Prue Leith will be stepping into Mary Berry’s shoes, joining original star Paul Hollywood as a judge on the popular baking show. QI’s Sandi Toksvig OBE and The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding will be hoping to become the new presenting dream team, as they take over from Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts.
After broadcasting The Great British Bake Off since 2010, The BBC lost the rights to the much-loved programme back in September 2016. It was immediately snapped up by Channel 4, however, Berry, Giedroyc and Perkins all announced that they would not be moving channels, deciding to remain loyal to the BBC. Hollywood was the only GBBO star to confirm he would be making the move to Channel 4, with fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of who would be joining him in the tent.
Speaking about his new team, Hollywood said: “I could not be more delighted by who will be joining me on the show. Prue is a hugely respected culinary legend and Sandi and Noel are warm and utterly hilarious. I cannot wait to get back in the tent with the bakers.”
In a statement, Leith said: “I am just so thrilled to be joining Paul, Sandi and Noel on the biggest show on TV and I cannot wait to see what the real stars of the show – the bakers – are going to create for us. It is such an honour to be part of The Great British Bake Off team.”
Toksvig added: “It is an extraordinary honour to part of this national treasure of a show. I am so delighted to be working with Love Productions and Channel 4 on this best of British show.”
Comedian Fielding said: “GBBO is one of my favourite shows. I’ve always loved brightly coloured cakes and Sandi Toksvig so this is a dream come true for me! It’s basically the double.”
Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer Jay Hunt said: “The Great British Bake Off will have a uniquely Channel 4 take when it airs this autumn. Paul and Prue have huge amounts of expertise and warmth. I’m looking forward to seeing them putting our great new bunch of amateur bakers through their paces. Sandi and Noel bring a fresh wit and quirkiness to the tent. It’s just the sort of innovative lineup audiences expect from Channel 4.”
The new series of The Great British Bake Off, the first to be aired on Channel 4, is expected later this year.