The Great British Bake Off: five things we’ll miss when it moves to Channel 4 from the BBC

The beloved baking show is about to undergo some huge changes
One last time: the Bake Off will be forever changed after the Series 7 finale
BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Ben Travis26 October 2016

The Great British Bake Off has always been the loveliest and most upbeat competition show on TV – but this year’s final will be tinged with sadness.

As fans learned a few weeks ago, Series 7 will be the last one to air on the BBC, with the show moving to Channel 4 in 2017.

While the Bake Off will live on, it really won’t be the same on its new home.

Here are five things we’ll miss about the Great British Bake Off after the finale.

1) Mel and Sue

This is an obvious one, but when it was announced that Mel and Sue had quit the show their brilliance became even more pronounced.

The duo imbued the Bake Off with a lot of its trademark wit and daft puns – and they really excelled themselves with their history gags in 2016’s Tudor Week.

Channel 4 will have a tough job replacing them – though the rumoured Richard Ayoade would be a good choice.

The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue?

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2) No advert breaks

Ad breaks are a mixed blessing – on the one hand they could interrupt the flow of the show, but on the other hand it gives plenty of opportunities for tea breaks. And if there’s one thing the Bake Off benefits from, it’s a good cuppa.

Still, will this mean less actual baking? If the GBBO slot remains one hour long, we might get nearly 15 minutes less of the show each week once ads are factored in – and that would be a true shame.

3) Mary Berry

Mel and Sue are tough enough shoes to fill – but how do you even go about replacing Mary Berry?

Mary and Paul have both made names for themselves on the Bake Off, but it’s the former who’s the true icon of the show.

Across the seven series she’s transformed from a dowdy granny to the most glamorous presenter on TV, but she’s never lost her charm and the twinkle in her eye along the way.

Mary, you’ll always be the queen of the Bake Off.

4) The history lessons

Look, we know this is probably your least favourite part of the show at the moment – but if Channel 4 jettison it, you’ll miss it when it’s gone.

The loss of Mel and Sue could mean the end of the history segment, which you sometimes actually learn some pub quiz-friendly snippets from – or at least work out whatever the hell Paul has set as the obscure technical challenge that week.

Great British Bake Off week by week

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5) How gentle it is

Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt has said that she wants to keep the Bake Off exactly as it is – but the network is known for its more edgy and youth-focused shows.

Bake Off’s humour and appeal has always been about how old-fashioned and gentle it is. It’s not about the drama, or being hip, or adding any twists – and if any of that gets changed on its new home, you can bet audiences won’t take to it.

Thanks for everything, GBBO – here’s to whatever comes next.

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