Dawn French has ruled herself out of presenting ‘The Great British Bake Off’.
The 59-year-old actress, writer and comedian has followed the lead of her long-time comedy partner Jennifer Saunders in confirming that neither of them have any intention of hosting the TV baking competition when it moves from BBC One to Channel 4 next year.
The pair were linked to the show after hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, along with judge Mary Berry, quit the programme when Love Productions sold the rights to Channel 4 in a deal worth an estimated £75 million.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Dawn said: "I think that rumour started because what other two girls are there working together? It’s as simple as that. ‘Those two, them’. Absolutely not, no. It’ll probably work perfectly nicely on Channel 4. They don’t have to get many viewers to be pleased.
"Mary will get her own thing and Mel and Sue will get their own thing and everyone will be happy."
Although Mary, 81, is done with ‘GBBO’ she recently confirmed she’ll be working with Mel and Sue again on a new project.
Speaking on ‘The Chris Evans Breakfast Show’ on BBC Radio 2, she said: "We will do something because we’re good pals, and who knows what it would be? We haven’t been approached yet, but we would love to do something together. I love their humour."
Although the threesome are yet to sign up to their next project, it’s believed bosses at the BBC are hoping to get them on board their forthcoming culinary programme, which has the working title ‘The Big Family Cooking Challenge’, for the beginning of 2017.
Meanwhile Mary Berry will return to BBC One next year for a new cookery and history programme called ‘In Secret From Britain’s Great Houses’.
However, not everyone is staying with the BBC as Mary’s co-judge Paul Hollywood has decided to follow the show over to Channel 4 when it makes its switch later this year.
Dawn French won’t host The Great British Bake Off
