Yes whatever the reality, it is bound to be perceived that these two have done it for their own reasons (I wonder what reasons those could be ) and shut everyone else out. There are a few media executives like that - think the whole thing is down to their genius. Hey maybe I'm being unfair and they work 24/7 on making Bake Off and its cast workable.

Re: ITV's upcoming late night chat show. Can it work? The producer of Corden's show has gone on record saying it would never work in the UK as booking names is a real issue night after night unlike the US where there's an endless pool. C5 certainly had this problem with Up Late with Rylan very recently. The ITV show will probably have a bigger budget and a greater emphasis on features which will help but it's still not going to be easy keeping the quality up.

It sounds to me like someone at ITV has seen the impact of Carpool Karaoke and what social media can do for a show like that and wants in on the action regardless of the fact this is a very different market with unique challenges facing such a show and the numerous times it has failed in the past.

To add weight to my theory that there's very little substance to this idea, they couldn't decide on a presenter so will use a variety, and they haven't even come up with a slot for it as yet.

Not a lot there to inspire confidence really, is there?

I suppose as far as presenters are concerned the plan might be to see which host(s) viewers respond best to, but it's possible that the inconsistency that that entails is going to hinder it right from the very start.

Anyone remember Danny Coh....I mean the TV Controller blog? Funny tweets these past few days https://twitter.com/TheTVController

There's nothing to decide. She either wants to carry on with Bake Off and look a hypocrite or she doesn't. Her silence suggests she's going to C4. Her husband actually said "She is happy with the BBC. She is not signing anything yet".

If she genuinely felt as strongly about Mel and Sue and it being on the BBC as she proclaimed umpteen times, then it is baffling as to why she didn't quit yesterday. No, she is going to C4. I bet a new fiver on it.

Get Phillip Schofield to do it, that might get rid of him forever.

If I were Paul or Mary, I would absolutely take the money. As would 99% of the people here, regardless of what they claim.

Thing is, they're rather rich already. Once in a while it'd be nice to be surprised by people rising about money, no matter how much, but I wouldn't hold it against them if they do decide to go to C4. Mel and Sue clearly think other things are more important.

Mel and Sue have gained an incredible amount of respect from the public. They will be looked after by the BBC. They're both at an age where work could dry up once Bake Off starts faltering. So loyalty towards the BBC and continued employment was obviously more important to them than hoping for a big buck gamble that could leave them with nothing in the end.

Paul Hollywood can do what he likes as far as I'm concerned. His ego is bigger than any paycheque he will get. Him alone isn't enough to carry on making Bake Off a huge success.

Mary Berry though, I'd be disappointed if she went to C4 because of everything she said before hand. And, she doesn't need the money.

Or they already have a number of projects lined up with the BBC?

Who are you to decide who needs money and who doesn't? Would you tell a businessman to shut down his businesses when he does well, because he "doesn't need the money"? Being a celebrity is essentially a business, this is something many don't understand.

The fact of the matter is that it's nothing to do with any of us why Mary and Paul do/don't want to move.

As Keanu Reeves said (when asked why he worked on a tiny film for no money at all) "I have enough money. I'm never going to spend $50million in the next 30 years, so what's the point?"

If I were in the position that Paul and Mary were, I'd feel I was comfortable enough. If I were starting out, of course I'd bite their hand off for £6m, but Paul and Mary have the potential to leave Bake Off on a high with their head held high and make much more money working for the BBC in the long term.

If money is so important, why did Graham Norton leave Channel 4 for the BBC? His salary was less, but he knew he would be better off in the long term on the BBC - he was right, they have found the right balance of shows for him. He's paid less than he was offered at Channel 4, but his career is better than it was previously.

But the workload has doubled - i read somewhere that the new contract is for 40 hours of Bake Off related programmes a year and thats just screen time - for an 81 yr old thats a lot to commit too and what else will they be free to do >

Excuse me. Lose the tone buddy. As the story is in the public domain and as 15 million people have a vested interest, and have devoted their time to the show and the people in it, I am perfectly entitled to have a view on it. I believe Mary would be hypocritical, because of the things she said prior, if she goes to C4. If she goes it is purely for the money and why would she need it when she probably has more than the yearly fee from C4? If I want to have that viewpoint, who the hell are you to tell me otherwise?

It's completely different in this situation though. A businessman has done all the work himself. Whereas if Paul and Mary take the big bucks, it comes off looking like they think they're the things that makes the show work, which they're not.

Or - she with her support for the BBC comment and nothing signed - and Paul - with his not up to me I'm just a judge - might be signals to the BBC.

Saying we are being courted by Channel 4. We would like to stay with you. Give us an offer and keep the four of us together on your own version of Bake Off and we will choose you.

If the BBC can get their act together that would be a possible way to read these events.

The BBC can never offer huge money but they can show that they want the four to stay together on a new show.

If they are not trying to do that then I would be baffled as to why not.

Oh and since someone mentioned has there been a situation like this before on UK TV? The only one I can think of is Des Lynam going to ITV. And we all know how that worked out, don't we?

Wossy is a similar situation but he wasn't really in a position to stay at the BBC. Yes, his show is still on ITV but his ratings are in the pits.

to be frank Bake Off minus Mary, Mel and Sue but with Hollywood would be a disaster for C4. The women are the draws, certainly not him. I hear nothing but badmouthing of him from the Bake Off fans I know. After cheating on his wife, being the only one to take the C4 shilling while the others said no would just seal his public persona as a louse.

The last word of that quote. Three very big letters.

As for Mel and Sue - they've played a blinder. If rumours are true, Love and C4 weren't bothered about them and weren't willing to give them a big rise.

I really do hope their new ventures are successful on the beeb. If they aren't, they'll be dumped just like ITV dumped them. And that statement might really have burnt bridges with Channel 4.

Paul and Mary might be close to the people at Love. They might feel more loyalty to the little business than to the multi-billion pound business.

All this talk of loyalty from the BBC must be raising some eyebrows at the Met Office.

It's just so odd watching the Bake Off now, knowing how bad the relationship has been between everyone involved. It takes a bit of the shine away from it.

Only between the executives and talent. I'm sure those most responsible for its success had a great time making it.

Tinged with sadness as well for me, Mel and Sue are as integral to the show as anything, maybe more so that Paul and Mary, they're the glue that holds it together

Watching Batter Week has convinced me that the BBC could launch a similar cooking show rather than a baking show.

The thread has really gone quiet - everyone glued

Oh I don't doubt that. It's just the talent I feel sorry for, they went into this series thinking they were on the beeb for years. Little did they know what was in store for them.

I feel sorry for the Beeb really, they must be so torn about whether to promote it and enjoy the ratings or try to sabotage it.