Mary Berry says she was ‘never asked’ to join Channel 4’s Bake Off

A replacement for the baking judge is due to be announced soon
Never asked: Mary Berry has spoken out about her position in Bake Off's move to Channel 4
BBC
Ben Travis21 February 2017

Mary Berry has said she was ‘never asked’ by Channel 4 to join the re-launched Great British Bake Off.

The TV judge announced she was stepping down from the show in the days after the BBC lost the rights to it, while on-screen partner Paul Hollywood signed a three year Channel 4 deal to stay.

However, it now seems that Berry was never going to remain on the series after the move.

Speaking to the Radio Times, she said: “I was never asked to go.

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“Well, I avoided being asked. It was suggested what would happen if I did go to Channel 4; what I would get, the advantages. But I didn’t ever have a meeting with them. I’d made up my mind.

“To me it’s an honour to be on the BBC. I was brought up on it.”

The latest rumour for Berry’s replacement is The Great British Menu’s Prue Leith.

Following reports on The Sun that Leith was tipped to join the series, the TV chef confirmed that she is in the running – but the job isn’t hers yet.

“I’m certainly one of the runners,” she said. “I can wish, I can dream.

“But all this leaking is not a leak. I think it’s called fake news.”

She added: “I think I’m close, but I know there are two people in the running. And I don’t know who the other is.”

Leith has since vowed to ‘go on holiday’ until Channel 4 confirm their line-up.

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