Channel 4 must stick to the Great British Bake Off recipe to keep viewers loyal

THE cake is crumbling already. On Monday Channel 4 was the cat that got the cream pie, boasting it nicked Great British Bake Off for an eye-watering £75million.

But fast forward less than 24 hours and key ingredients Mel and Sue have vanished.

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And what of Paul and Mary? Mary didn’t sound too on-board when she said the change was nothing to do with her.

Bake Off is suddenly in crisis.

We should brace ourselves for more to come. We know where we’re heading — into the wonderful world of commerce.

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C4’s commercial team, albeit spooked by Mel and Sue’s departure, will be licking their lips at the prospect of selling ads and deals off the back of its ratings juggernaut.

But the moment they interrupt the tension of the tent with adverts, something will be lost.

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When Bake Off is brought to us courtesy of a commercial sponsor — “this is not just any baking show, this is an M&S-sponsored baking show” — any innocence will be gone.

Big-spending C4 insists it has no plans to alter a winning format. But with the pressure to recoup the gigantic outlay — and make a profit — how could it resist?

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How long before chiefs start tinkering and we end up with a garish competition to rival The X Factor?

Nerve-racking, drawn-out drama as the music pounds and the judges make their decisions. Oh crumbs, Paul Hollywood’s pressed the button of doom. It’s going to . . .  drum roll . . .  Breadlock!

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Stand by for the sob stories. Fewer soggy bottoms and more tales of hitting rock bottom. Never mind the contestants’ cakes, bring out their dead relatives. Meanwhile, celebrity guests pop in to join in the fun.

For many critics the tragedy is that C4 has bought the show in the first place.

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Shamelessly poaching a programme to cash in on its vast audience hardly fulfils C4’s remit as a public service broadcaster.

Does the move demonstrate “innovation, experiment and creativity?” No. Is it behaving at the “edge of the mainstream”? Is it hell.

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There is no escaping the feeling that this is a desperate move by a broadcaster in desperate need of a major hit.

The Big Gypsy Wedding era is over. Even Gogglebox is on the wane.

C4 needs Bake Off fans to stay loyal. To achieve that, it should stick to the recipe.