The ‘Great British Bake Off’ will have a Christmas special on the BBC before it moves across to Channel 4 next year.
The popular baking show is set to shift channels at the beginning of 2017 after it was swiped away by the broadcaster in a three-year deal worth an estimated £75 million, but bosses at the BBC, which has screened the programme since 2010, are planning to give it the send off it deserves by creating one last ‘The Great Christmas Bake Off’ next month.
The special episode will feature a selection of bakers from previous series but it’s not yet known whether Paul Hollywood – who has been a judge on the show since the beginning – will be invited back for the festive shenanigans alongside his co-judge Mary Berry and hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins after he turned his back on the BBC and agreed to move to Channel 4.
The BBC lost the rights to the cooking series in September at it failed to make Love Productions – the creators of the show – an acceptable offer.
Channel 4, which also took ‘Formula One’ from the BBC earlier this year, immediately jumped in with their mega-money deal after they heard negotiations had broken down, but failed to secure the judges and the popular hosts as well.
The channel spent days trying to persuade the 81-year-old culinary queen to move with the show, but she immediately shot down their offer out of "loyalty" to the BBC and she is now planning her own baking series with the network.
However, the 50-year-old silver fox was clearly dished out an offer he couldn’t refuse as he has agreed to front the programme next year on his own, while bosses at Channel 4 are hoping to bag a new presenting duo.
Meanwhile, the ‘Great Christmas Bake Off’ isn’t the only festive special the BBC have lined up this year, as bosses have also scheduled in Christmas episodes of ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Sherlock’, ‘Call the Midwife’ and ‘EastEnders’.
‘Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ is also set to get two festival shows – ‘Mammy’s Forest’ and ‘Chez Mammy’ – while ‘Outnumbered, which hasn’t been seen on screens since 2014, will also make a highly-anticipated return.
Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, said: "We’ve pulled out all the stops this Christmas to bring the nation together with a sparkling line-up of family favourites, brand new treats and festive specials on BBC Television.
"We are showcasing an unrivalled range of top quality comedy, drama, entertainment, factual and religious programmes across our channels that promise to deliver something for everyone."
Great British Bake Off to get Christmas special on BBC
