Berry leaves GBBO; Hollywood remains

In an update to the drama surrounding The Great British Bake Off’s move from BBC to Channel 4, host Mary Berry has announced that she will not be involved with the new show. However, Paul Hollywood has signed a three-year deal with the network, making him the only original host making the move.

Berry said that loyalty to the BBC, which had “nurtured her and the show”, influenced her decision. Hollywood tweeted that he was “staying in the tent with the bakers where I belong” although he did thank the BBC and his co-hosts “for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding.”

Opinion is divided on whether the GBBO will be successful without popular hosts Berry, Mel Giedroyc, and Sue Perkins. Michael Grade, former BBC and ITV chairman, is one of the skeptics. “It’s a huge gamble in my view,” he said, noting that the chemistry between the hosts played a large role in the success of the show.  Others, like former contestant Tamal Ray, think the switch can be good. “About time there was a bit of a shake-up,” says the ex-finalist.