Tuesday 13 September 2016 4:51 pm

Bake-xit: Two Great British Bake Off hosts to leave programme after move from BBC

Great British Bake Off hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc are to step down when the programme leaves the BBC for Channel 4.

The Bake Off move, which emerged last night, has caused a stir and sparked front page news today.

Perkins and Giedroyc said in a joint statement, reported by the BBC:

We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home.

We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was.

Announcing it would be leaving the BBC after a long-term relationship, Bake Off maker Love Productions said:

We are writing to let you all know that, with deep regret, after more than a year of exhaustive negotiations we have been unable to reach an agreement with the BBC for the renewal of the Great British Bake Off.

The BBC responded with a plea for the Bake Off to remain:

We made a very strong offer to keep the show but we are a considerable distance apart on the money. The BBC's resources are not infinite.

GBBO is a quintessentially BBC programme. We hope Love Productions change their mind so that Bake Off can stay ad free on BBC One.

Before Channel 4 dramatically announced it had won the Bake Off.

Chief creative officer Jay Hunt said:

Channel 4 is very proud to be the new home for The Great British Bake Off. I’m delighted we have been able to partner with the hugely talented team at Love Productions to keep this much loved show on free-to-air television.