Mel Giedroyc "encouraged" Noel Fielding to take the ‘Great British Bake Off’ hosting job.
The 48-year-old presenter turned her back on the popular baking show, which she co-hosted with her friend Sue Perkins for five years, last year after Channel 4 snatched the rights to the programme from the BBC in a shock bidding war, but she clearly wasn’t bitter about the situation as she reportedly reached out to the comedian when she got wind of the news that he was being lined up as one of the new presenters and told him to jump at the chance.
A source told The Daily Mirror newspaper: "Mel is a big fan of Noel and encouraged him to take the role. It may well have been one of the deciding factors for Noel, as he knew he might be a controversial choice. They are good friends and Mel only has positive things to say about Noel and wishes him the best of luck on ‘…Bake Off’."
Noel, 43, will be joined on the programme by his new co-host Sandy Toksvig and judges Paul Hollywood – who moved across to Channel 4 with the show after he was offered a mega-money deal – and Prue Leith when the series returns to screens later this year.
Not much is known about the new series but bosses have confirmed that the episodes will run for 75 minutes – instead of an hour – due to the ad breaks that take place on Channel 4.
A spokesperson for the show said: "We have always promised viewers that they would not be short-changed on the show, even though we are an ad-funded channel. The programme will run for 75 minutes to allow that."
Not only have producers made a conscious effort to keep the running time the same as the BBC but they’ve also decided to keep some of the show’s main format elements.
Sources have claimed the theme tune, as well as the filming location of Welford Park in Berkshire, will remain the same so as to keep loyal ‘GBBO’ fans from switching off.
An insider said previously "While Channel 4 are keen to put their own stamp on the show, they are not trying to reinvent the wheel.
"They want to attract new legions of Bake Off fans, but also don’t want to dishearten those loyal viewers who have been watching it for years and are planning to keep doing so despite the change in channel.
"Viewers will get the familiar tent set-up, in the beautiful grounds of Welford Park, and the same theme tune they’ve been hearing since it was first launched in 2010."
Mel Giedroyc persuaded Noel Fielding to take GBBO job
