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MPS' FURY AT LOSS OF BAKE OFF

Culture committee set to grill BBC bosses after much-loved show snatched by Channel 4

The acting chair of the committee has said it will 'definitely' be addressed when both broadcasters are next in front of the panel

The Sun

MPs are to look at the sell-off of The Great British Bake Off.

The controversial switch of the much-loved baking contest from the BBC to its public sector rival Channel 4 has sparked interest about whether the broadcaster is championing innovative new programming.

 MPS could be looking into the sell-off of the much-loved Great British Bake Off to Channel 4
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MPS could be looking into the sell-off of the much-loved Great British Bake Off to Channel 4Credit: PA
 Damian Collins said he would take the issue to the culture, media and sport select committee
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Damian Collins said he would take the issue to the culture, media and sport select committee

Damian Collins, acting chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee told : "We will have the BBC and Channel 4 in front of the committee and Bake Off is definitely something that we will ask about when they next appear."

Judge Mary Berry and presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins have opted not to follow the dough and will stay at the BBC out of loyalty, with only Paul Hollywood moving to the rival channel after he declared the tent is "where I belong".

Hollywood will get a pay rise for his switch to C4, with the suggestion he could earn £300,000 a series , making the deal worth around £1 million over three years, plus more for added endorsements.

 Paul Hollywood will remain as a judge when the programme switches channels but Mary Berry announced she would not and bid farewell to the show
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Paul Hollywood will remain as a judge when the programme switches channels but Mary Berry announced she would not and bid farewell to the showCredit: BBC
 Berry decided to stay with the BBC which she said 'nurtured' her
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Berry decided to stay with the BBC which she said 'nurtured' herCredit: PA
 Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins decided they would not follow the dough out of loyalty to the BBC and will not be starring in the next series
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Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins decided they would not follow the dough out of loyalty to the BBC and will not be starring in the next seriesCredit: BBC

After days of speculation, Berry announced on Thursday that she is saying "farewell to soggy bottoms".

Berry said she would stay with the BBC, which has "nurtured me", and she feels "sad"; for the Bake Off audience which does not want the show to change.

Hollywood was criticised for failing to mention Berry in his initial statement about his future, despite thanking the BBC, Giedroyc and Perkins.

But he later tweeted to say how much he would miss his fellow judge.

Richard McKerrow, creative director at Bake Off makers Love Productions, attempted to reassure fans the show will not change substantially, despite the loss of its hosts and one of its judges.

The BBC is believed to have offered Love Productions £15 million a year to keep the programme, but that is reported to have fallen £10 million short.

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