BBC ‘loses rights’ to the Great British Bake Off

Current series of the hit show will be its last on the BBC, production company confirms

The current seventh season will be the last to air on BBC One (BBC)

The BBC has lost the rights to The Great British Bake Off.

The production company behind the hit show, Love Productions, said they were unable to reach an agreement with the BBC after more than a year of negotiations.

The television show is in its seventh series, with the current series being the last to air on the BBC.

According to The Telegraph, Love Productions said in an email to staff that after a year of “exhaustive” negotiations the agreement was coming to an end.

The email said: “After more than a year of exhaustive negotiations we have been unable to reach an agreement with the BBC for the renewal of The Great British Bake Off.”

It added: “We are really saddened by this outcome because we always wanted to stay on the BBC. As recently as June we were convinced that was what would happen. This has never been about who might write the biggest cheque, but about where we can find the best home for Bake Off.”

A spokesman told the BBC a last ditch meeting on Monday had failed to keep the show at the BBC and said the issues were both money and the development of the brand.

In a statement, Love Productions said: “After an extraordinary six-year journey with the BBC, Love Productions announces with regret that it has been unable to reach agreement on terms to renew the commission of The Great British Bake Off.

“We will now be focusing on finding a new partner to develop the familiar show that the British public turn to in their millions. Love Productions would like to thank the BBC for the role it played in making this show such an enormous hit, and the faith they showed in us over the years to develop it.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Working with Love Productions, we have grown and nurtured the programme over seven series and created the huge hit it is today. We made a very strong offer to keep the show but we are a considerable distance apart on the money. The BBC’s resources are not infinite. GBBO is a quintessentially BBC programme. We hope Love Productions change their mind so that Bake Off can stay ad free on BBC One.”