Great British Bake Off king Paul Hollywood and other co-stars trousered thousands from ‘charity’ specials
BAKE Off king Paul Hollywood received up to £117,500 to appear in cancer charity specials.
Co-stars Sandi Toksvig, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding were also paid, despite Channel 4 saying on air that all money would go to charity.
A TV source said: “Viewers will be furious.”
They raked in the hefty sums for Stand Up To Cancer specials — even though celebrity contestants donated their whole fees to charity.
Hollywood, 52, is believed to have made up to £23,500 per episode in his new contract.
Last night Channel 4 confirmed that all money raised by the show from viewer donations goes to charity — but admitted that Prue, 78, Sandi, 59, and Noel, 44, had also been paid to appear.
A TV source said: “None of the celebrity bakers took any money as there entire fees were donated to Stand Up To Cancer.
“But the presenters and judges all took a massive payday as part of their wider new Bake Off contracts. It’s pretty appalling.
“Viewers are going to be furious that Paul, Prue, Noel and Sandi took huge sums when the show was presented as a charity project.
“Channel 4 bosses claim the four donated a portion of their fee to the charity, but refused to say what percentage.
A source at the broadcaster admitted: “It was up to them to decide what to donate.
“The show involved a big time commitment for filming several episodes and doing voiceovers later.
“Celebrity contestants who took part, like Alan Carr and Harry Hill, weren’t paid at all.
“Their fees went straight to the charity.”
During the final episode aired this week, comic Carr, 41, said: “At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if your cakes taste delicious or they are rubbish, we’re all doing it for Stand Up To Cancer.
“And 100 per cent of that money goes to the charity — 100 per cent. What’s not to love.”
Celebrities who took part included Desperate Housewives actress Teri Hatcher, comic Aisling Bea and athlete Kadeena Cox.
Last night a row was brewing over whether Bake Off stars were previously paid for Comic Relief specials on the BBC.
A source insisted that Mary Berry, 83, had received a fee for judging them.
A representative for Mary refused to say whether she had donated any of her payment.
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A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Our aim is to raise as much as possible for Stand Up To Cancer.
“Those contracted for long-running series make a significant donation to the campaign.
“As a result of their involvement millions have been raised with 100 per cent of the money raised going to fund ground-breaking research.”
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