the reasons best left unlooked into, I was watching Newswatch a few nights ago, and it seems someone (and it would not shock me if it was someone from this forum) has been having a moan about the airtime given to Bake Off. To counter this BBC News then used this as an excuse to talk about it somemore, without even a generic talking head, saying the usual lines

BBC News trolling I think,

That isn't what I said in that post. Don't put words in my mouth.

"But I do believe that some people do have integrity and a sense of morality, and that Mel and Sue have left GBBO as they said and for the reasons they said". That's why I believe they have left - they have the integrity and morality to do AS THEY SAID :- "We will not be following the dough.".

I don't think Mel and Sue have actually given reasons, have they? All they said was that they would not be "following the dough", not why.

And you wouldn't expect them to say why - especially not if, for example, they had a secret 'golden handcuffs' deal with the BBC, which required them not to disclose or publicise that fact.

Obviously, we don't - and won't - know, if that is the case or not.

It was also reported that one of the duo was looking to quit GBBO anyway, also, so this provided a convenient break point to do so.

They said:

"We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was. The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15m at its peak."

It;s also been stated that they didn't know about the move until just before it was announced.

Let's hope Mel and Sue set the new standard, that of integrity and doing what is ethically and morally right. Love Production's behaviour this week has been disloyal and frankly disgraceful. They have forgotten their roots...who gave them the break when no-one else would. Such behaviour shouldn't be rewarded. I really hope viewers vote with their remotes and say 'no' to GBBOOn4 and 'no' to Love Productions going forward.

If that was the case, neither should have deserted commercial television, where they made their names, for the bbc. Shameful disloyalty

Thankfully, those nasty Tories of yours have given the BBC a bit of a reprieve. They don't have to put 100% of shows out for indy's but have to offer 40%. But, and here's the big point, any show an indy works on that is already a BBC show remains property of the BBC. This should mean that Indy's won't be able to fleece the BBC again.

No bruv. They did the right thing by turning their backs on the dough and the commercial sector. They (Mel and Sue) have high standards. Respect to them. They will have also remembered that history is littered with those who got greedy, jumped to ITV (or similar) never to be heard of again. If it ain't broke and all that. They are absolutely right to be sticking with the Beeb given what they said recently. I'd do the same, no hesitation.

Leaving commercial stations for dear old Auntie beeb is perfectly acceptable, but going in the other direction is "immoral" and "shameful". Yeah, OK

You're a parody account without the humour

Ah Wizzy, you are like Mr Ben the shopkeeper. One minute you are there, the next you've disappeared again. How are you fella?

Where have you heard this from Wizz?

So currently the Beeb has to outsource 25% of production...with a further 25% going through a 'window of creative opportunity' (or whatever it's called) whereby indies compete with BBC in-house...with the remaining 50% being BBC in-house. Will this 15% increase mean the end of the 'window of creative opportunity' I wonder Whizz?

BIB...so that's good. So an indie which say takes over EastEnders (heaven forbid) could never sell it to another broadcaster?

A couple of points here.

1. The BBC operates in a competitive market. It has to be able to operate effectively and successfully within that market. It needs the resources to be able to do so fairly.

2. All contracts the BBC has with indies going forward must be absolutely water tight. We cannot have another Bake Off situation in the future. It isn't right. Personally I would prefer co-productions whereby the BBC has the controlling stake. BBC bods around these parts, are you listening? Take note of what's happened this week and get tough.

Going from the private sector to the BBC is of course acceptable, but we are muddling two issues here aren't we. Mel and Sue made it clear that they wanted Bake Off to stay on the Beeb (and they wanted to stay on the Beeb) because it is a very BBC show. They are simply honouring that statement which is very honourable given that most these days don't harbour such qualities. You should respect Mel and Sue for the fact that their actions mirror their words.

And Love Productions are ensuring their show is kept on the air, meaning no backroom staff loses their jobs. They spent 12 months negotaiting with the bbc with no success. It's no wonder they walked away and showed loyalty to their staff

It was in the Observer today. No, indy's can not sell the show on if the show they produce independently is a current BBC show. The BBC are going to announce what shows they are putting out to tender this coming Wednesday. But, BBC Studios are also allowed to pitch shows for other channels. If the BBC felt for instance that it was cheaper for Wizzy Productions to take over EastEnders, then EastEnders would remain a BBC programme and could not go to another channel.

It will be interesting to see how the BBC pitch to other channels. I wonder if in the future we see a Bake Off in reverse? i.e. A show made by BBC for ITV and is really successful so transfers to BBC for future series'?

The Beeb were offering £10 million more than they are currently paying. That should have been enough for Love.

Loyalty from Love? Since when has negotiating a massive change without consulting those involved meant 'loyalty to staff'?

Love broke several rules here this week. 1. They forgot the viewers and ignored them 2. They forgot the broadcaster (and the people) who invested in them in the first place 3. They didn't consult the on screen team and currently have non of them signed up 4. The forgot their public service ethos by putting profit and greed front and centre.

I won't forgive or forget what Love did this week. Channel 4 has taken a major dip in my estimations too this week.

An interesting article from the Guardian today:

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...ck-stewart-lee

The following is of particular note:
"...But in refusing to follow The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4, the comedians Mel Perkins and Sue Giedroyc have shown that they are the beating heart of this delightful show which I have never watched. For Mel and Sue have done something no one does any more. They have taken a stand for something they believe in..."
The Guardian

This place is turning into Snowflake Central. You would rather the bbc cancelled the show than it moving to another channel? Have you no interest in those employed to make the show, or does your "morality" only extend to the prestenters?

LP are a private company, they are not bound by "public service ethos" (whatever that means). They are obliged to keep a show running for as long as possible, either by innovation, changing presenters (SP and MG salary demands must be really high after so long), or moving to a channel that wants them. And that is what keeps people in a job

You are missing the point.
The BBC were not going to axe Bake Off.
The BBC wanted to continue to show Bake Off.
The BBC offered £15 million per year (that is just £3million less than Strictly btw) to Love Productions.
Love Productions over valued Bake Off to ensure BBC would not pay the asking price.

It was already on air. Had Love Productions accepted the BBC's new offer it would have stayed on air. There was no risk to it not being on air.

Now do you understand? The only people who put Bake Off at risk was Love Productions.

Mel Perkins and Sue Giedroyc?!

Does the article say anything about Mary Hollywood and Paul Berry?

Oh ok. Thanks for that. I will have a read.

As I say, the contracts between the indies and the BBC (and in fact the indies and all broadcasters) need to be extremely tight going forward to ensure that the broadcasters remain in charge. I think people underestimate what a game changer this week has been. The biggest show on tv has left one broadcaster for another over night. Shocking, absolutely shocking. I should think it has sent shock waves around ITV towers too. Imagine Syco Entertainment leaving ITV for 5 or Sky? ITV would have loads of hours to fill.

The BBC will always want to ensure (as best they can) that they are seen as the good guys. There is no way they would 'do a Bake Off'. What would be acceptable I suppose is if ITV (who commissioned the show from BBC Studios) axed said show. It could then move to the Beeb (or elsewhere) after that if the Beeb wanted it.

Furthermore, I suspect the BBC will want to keep all their flagship shows in-house, especially after this week.

The bbc and LP spent 12 months in negotiations, and still had no sign of progress. What point do you realise this is going nowhere and start looking for other clients? That's all LP did

The bbc have form for this behaviour. They has a joint deal with HBO to product Rome in the 00's, but pulled out of the third series late in the day when the second series was still airing, giving no notice to the cast and crew that it was being cancelled

Rome was cancelled by the BBC because it was not value for money for the licence fee payer. It got no ratings and no return on international sales. It isn't form. It's called being a Public Service Broadcaster which receives no money from advertisers or sponsorships.

Love Productions were playing hard ball because they wanted additional advertising revenue which they could not gain from the BBC. They knew the BBC would be unable to pay £25 million. That's why they (Love) set it at the new minimum rate.

Was the BBC about to axe it 'for creative reasons/creative renewal'? Given it's their biggest show...

The BBC wanted to keep Bake Off, the presenters wanted Bake Off to remain on the BBC and the viewers want Bake Off to remain on the BBC. The only people who didn't want Bake Off to remain on the Beeb are the owners of Love...and we all now know why: m-o-n-e-y.

If you are a private company working a public service contract you have to comply with the 'public service ethos'. If public money is good enough to take...

Mel and Sue "made their names" with a Channel 4 daytime show called "light Lunch"
It got moved to teatime and was put up against Neighbours.
It got binned fialry quickly.

They therefore have first hand experience of a show being "messed about with" and then cancelled.

Whoops...just realised that The Guardian made a boob. Deliberate I wonder? No real mention of Paul or Mary.

Absolutely spot on Whizz.

Because they threw it out mid-week on BBC2, at 11 o'clock, dropped an episode from the first series, and billed it as a sex and violence show. They bungled the marketing and showed zero interest in advertising the second series

After 12 months of failed negotiations, they were showing the same lack of interest in Bake Off