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Paul Hollywood issues second Great British Bake Off statement after failing to thank Mary Berry in first

'She has made the right decision for her'

Jack Shepherd
Thursday 22 September 2016 11:13 BST
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Unlike Mary Berry, Mel Giedroyc, and Sue Perkins, Paul Hollywood has announced he will be staying with The Great British Bake Off as it moves to Channel 4 from the BBC.

Despite having judged the show with Berry since the show's inception in 2010, Hollywood failed to mention her in his leaving statement, thanking the BBC, Mel, and Sue.

Paul Hollywood's statement on The Great British Bake Off

“I am delighted that I will be continuing as a judge when Bake Off moves to Channel 4. I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding.

“Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life. The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories. Best of all, I have felt so pleased to experience other people getting the baking bug, just as I did when my dad helped me make my first loaf.”

After the statement's release, Hollywood took to Twitter to thank Mary, saying "I'll miss her but she has made the right decision for her".

In a statement to The Independent, Hollywood clarified that he was not aware Berry would be leaving when the initial statement was launched.

Paul's second statement

“When I spoke about my news earlier on, I did not know what Mary was saying about her decision, and more importantly had not been able to speak to her.

"Let there be no doubt: I have loved every minute of my time working with Mary. I have learned so much from her and we are great friends inside and outside the tent. That will not change. Knowing her as well as I do, I am sure she has made the right decision for her. I will miss her.”

The BBC has since confirmed to The Independent that Hollywood will be staying with the show as a judge for at least three seasons of the show.

As of yet, there is no indication as to what programmes are in the BBC’s mixing bowl, although various reports have suggested that Simon Cowell has already pitched a new baking show to the broadcaster.

Love Productions announced that the Bake Off was to move to Channel 4 last week after the BBC lost its rights to the most-watched programme of 2015.

Numerous meetings were not enough to save the BBC's partnership with the production company, which cited concerns over the broadcaster’s valuation of the show, as well as the development of the brand.

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