Lord Sugar calls Bake Off switch to Channel 4 a 'fatal error'

By Patrick McLennan
( What's on TV )
published

(Image credit: BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdi)

Lord Sugar is one of numerous celebrities who have slammed Love Productions' decision to move the Great British Bake Off from BBC1 to Channel 4

Former winners and celebrity fans of The Great British Bake Off have shared their views on the flagship BBC programme’s surprise move to Channel 4.

Jo Wheatley, who won in 2011, told BBC News: “My gut feeling was a bit of shock to begin with – ‘oh no, how could the Beeb let that go’ – and now I’ve got my head around it I’m a little bit calmer.”

Great British Bake Off winners John Whaite, Joanne Wheatley, Frances Quinn and Edd Kimber

Great British Bake Off winners John Whaite, Joanne Wheatley, Frances Quinn and Edd Kimber (BBC Good Food Magazine)

2012 winner John Waite told ITV News: “Channel 4 are not going to mess around with its format and if they do they’ll be stupid. I think everyone is going to have a very close eye on what they with the show. If they do anything, if they make one wrong step, I think it could be catastrophic. So I’m not concerned, I think it will remain the Bake Off.”

A host of stars also tweeted up a storm:

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Comedian and BBC radio presenter Danny Baker tweeted: “I don’t think channels should buy up other channels programs like swaggering football clubs..”

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We can only wait and see what 2017 brings for the Bake Off.

 

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.