It is filmed BEFORE the airing of the main program. The studio audience watches a sneak preview of the episode before they record the "Extra Slice". This is a couple of days before the live broadcast. The audience knows the theme of show before going to the recording because it is mentioned at the end of the previous week's show (no industry secret!).

How do I know? I went to the recording of Extra Slice episode 3 (bread week) this series. Sadly my Focaccia with Sue Perkin's face on it was not considered good enough for the front section and I had to wave it from the back (yes I did spot it in the final edit).

Unless it simply means that the relationship was so bad that negotiations for Bake Off reached an impasse. I think Love were very likely frustrated at the commercial restrictions of the BBC, and how it effectively curtailed exploitment of their very popular show. They went in then with a figure that would cover their otherwise perceived losses against what it could make commercially and jumped when the BBC declined, as they had another broadcaster interested.

I wouldn't say they had it below market value, the actual value to start was zero as not one other channel wanted it, the BBC even had to give Love a grant so they could start to make it as they didn't have the cash . Other channels did not want it until it became popular and even then the BBC offered a 200% increase and Loves costs have not increased to the level of 200% , Love have asked for a 400% uplift and C4 have paid it , that does not mean it is valued at or worth that just that C4 paid it.

Not according to C4 they didn't! They're telling us that they stepped in only when the show became available at the end of the BBC negotiation. Not poachers us. Nothing to see here. Of course nobody believes a word of it but that's the official position

Yes, they stepped in so quickly that LP had a taxi ready to take the LP execs over to C4's offices and within an hour or so C4 had signed a legally-binding contract costing them a mere £75 million. All done & dusted.

And no, we don't believe you Channel 4.

Back in April it was being said about ITV, Sky and Channel 4 all expressing an interest so 4 didn't step in at the last minute and have talks that quickly they just couldn't agree an offer until BBC and Love had parted ways ( its a bit like the UK and Brexit, we cannot agree trade deals with other non EU countries until the day we leave the EU that doesn't prevent talks and everything being ready to sign the day we do leave ) . ITV offered more but they wanted the team guaranteed which Love couldn't do.

As you say , no we don't believe you C4

To be fair, the show wasn't available whilst it was being touted, it was just open to an alternative offer. It only became available when Love notified them that the BBC declined to renew.

I find it disappointing that the show is leaving the BBC, and C4 (and perhaps Love, in the longer term) have made a mistake with it, but you really do need to get a grip.

Whether it was available or not is beside the point - the alternative offers were likely to have been "on the table" regardless, ready to be picked up as and when necessary.

The crucial point (which has been made a few times previously) is that the talks with Channel 4 must have been at an advanced stage prior to the "relations have broken down" message from LP. No company will open talks, and waive through a massive multi-million pound deal in days, never mind an hour or two. At the very least contracts would have to have been scrutinised by the legal teams, not to mention some sort of clearance agreed before signing away £75 million.

It's all academic now anyway.

What you meant to say was that Love rejected the BBC's generous offer...on purpose.

Thanks for your advice. I feel very strongly that the behaviour of Love is anti-public service, anti viewer...and thanks to their greed, they have destroyed a show enjoyed by millions.

That's certainly possible, but, like the 'Golden Handcuffs' deals that are sometimes negotiated with particularly high-profile talent, limiting them to only one broadcaster, such an arrangement carries with it a significant cost in order to fully compensate the talent (or the producer) for the significant loss of opportunity of being able to work elsewhere.

For an indie to sign a life of series deal gives enormous control (and scope for abuse) to the broadcaster. No one in their right mind would sign such a deal without an enormous amount of money being on offer to make it worth the risk.

On the subject of Golden Handcuffs, given that the BBC has previously signed such agreements with low wattage presenters like Nick Knowles, comedians like David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and middling talent like Michael McIntyre, and offered such deals when trying to poach talent like Davina McCall from C4, (because remember it's OK when the BBC do it, but not when anyone else does), how much do you want to bet that Mel and Sue don't already have such an agreement preventing them from 'going with the dough' even if they wanted to?

GBBO is just the first programme whose contract had come to an end. Throwdown and Sewing Bee will be covered by different contracts which have presumably not yet expired.

No smokescreen - just basic logic.

Channel 4 (and ITV and the rest of the industry) knew that offers were likely to be invited for GBBO but no formal offers were made until after LP had notified the BBC that they did not wish to continue negotiations with them.

It has been reported that C4 secured board approval in advance (aware of the possibility of the need to make a bid at short notice) and made an offer within a couple of hours of the BBC being told that negotiations were over, but I'd be very surprised if the actual contract has even been signed yet. Making a formal agreement and actually finishing detailed contract negotiations and signing on the dotted line are often things which can be months apart.

Delia Smith's husband is reported as saying she is not interested in any offer from C4 for GBBO - looks like they are running out of options.

Which is why I qualified the observation with "If in future....". I guess you missed that.


It is a smokescreen if those shows continue on the BBC (past any existing contracts) because it would show the working relationship with the Beeb is just fine and dandy for shows that other broadcasters aren't particularly interested in but not fine for their cash-cow, GBBO. That would then expose the LP/C4 reason given as BS otherwise they'd withdraw all their shows from the BBC.

Posters on here have said that the most Senior C4 Execs were in Rio for the Paralympics at the time - so it MUST have all been done and dusted well before that. One person could not sign that kind of deal without the say-so of the C4 Board - or whatever they have.

If I remember correctly, this show was cancelled by the BBC. Therefore it had come to the "end of [its] life" therefore the contract would have been terminated and the IP holders were free do whatever they liked with the show.


How about because there's no reason not to believe M&S?

Nobody is saying that M&S have said anything untruthful. It's perfectly possible that they could have a golden handcuffs deal with the BBC and actually be unable to go to C4 even if they wanted to, while remaining consistent with their public statements that they will not be going to C4.

Obviously it's hard to prove a negative, especially if a confidentality agreement is in place, but it's not a completely implausible suggestion.

it will be Alan Carr at this rate

It was cancelled early by the BBC because of poor ratings, but if the BBC were in contract for the life of the programme they would not have been able to cancel, which was the point being made.

Channel 5 have a "lifetime" deal for Home & Away, signed by one of the previous owners of the Channel.

Totally agree with this. Sue Perkins is currently filming a new series of her BBC2 panel show. Nothing against them but I think the whole 'going with the dough' thing may not be quite so clear cut as it's been made out to be. Regardless I have nothing against celebrities looking around for a better deal on another channel if they could get it. Why on earth wouldn't you? The BBC are hardly any more of a cosy organisation than C4 is, it's just business. Where did this whole betraying the BBC thing even come from?

I am finding this idea of "X's husband says X isnt doing it", do we get some no name WAG being asked about who her husband is playing for next season?