Channel 4 has responded to speculation over Great British Bake Off’s future after suggestions the programme could move channels yet again.
The hit baking competition is made by Love Productions, which is currently owned by Sky – but will soon be an ITV property thanks to a new deal between the two TV heavyweights.
ITV will receive Love Productions as part of a £1.6bn deal, sparking speculation over whether Bake Off could move broadcasters for a second time in the show’s history.
A source told The Sun: “The whole industry is talking about Bake Off moving yet again, which would be a tremendous coup for ITV but bad news for C4 as it is their most-watched show.”
In a statement issued to The Independent, a Channel 4 and Love Productions spokesperson said: “Channel 4’s GBBO deal is with Love and as such is unaffected by the Sky ITV deal.”
It continued: “The show’s existing multi-year agreement with Love remains in place meaning Bake Off fans will be able to continue to enjoy the show on Channel 4 as usual.”
It is unclear when the existing multi-year deal ends.
Bake Off debuted on the BBC in 2010 and became one of the broadcaster’s biggest hits, before moving to Channel 4 in 2017.
A new series, featuring Nigella Lawson in a judging role alongside Paul Hollywood, will air later this year. Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond will return as presenters.
The Sky-ITV deal will see ITV’s terrestrial television channels and its streaming service, ITVX, merge with Sky, creating a new entity designed to challenge global streaming giants.
The deal does not include ITV Studios, the broadcaster’s production arm responsible for hit shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and the critically-acclaimed drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
ITV Studios will become a “pure-play global content business” with a long-term agreement to supply content to the newly combined Sky and ITV, according to the broadcaster.
Sky has committed to spending at least £2.1 billion on the partnership between 2028 and 2032. Addressing what will happen after this point, Sky CEO Dana Strong said: "As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street.
"So we've got all of the shows that consumers love in a five-year contract. That's a pretty long contract, as you know, in our industry. So I have no concerns about what happens after that. You just start negotiations for continuation.”
Under the terms of the deal, Sky will also pay £1.2 billion for ITV’s broadcasting unit and sell Love Productions to ITV for £200 million.
