The Great British Bake Off: Richard Osman tells Chris Evans (of all people) 'Changing presenters is difficult'

'Listen, I don’t know if you have any experience of a much-loved format changing presenters…'

Richard Osman, presenter of the hit BBC TV show Pointless, explained on Radio 2 how replacing Mel and Sue on The Great British Bake Off would be a tricky task.

"Changing presenters is difficult, it’s rocky, that’s the problem,” he said, referring to the debacle over Channel 4 acquiring the Love Productions series.

Funnily enough, Osman was talking on Chris Evans’s Breakfast Show; the same Chris Evans who replaced Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear for one series before quitting.

Osman managed to poke fun at Evans during the show, saying: “Listen, I don’t know if you have any experience of a much-loved format changing presenters…” to which Evans replied “not really” while laughing.

He went on to explain that, if Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry also leave the show it will be damaging for Channel 4 and - no matter what - Bake Off will likely suffer a ratings hit.

Osman also spoke about how the BBC could do a similar show with the same presenters but wouldn’t be allowed to create a direct competitor for legal reasons.

He added: “It’s hard for the BBC because they’re damned if they do and they’re damned if they don’t… Channel 4 will be a great home for Bake Off… Once people get over it, they’ll enjoy it the same way they currently do.”

Meanwhile, speculation surrounding Mel and Sue’s replacements has been rabid, many believing Jo Brand is the likely frontrunner.