Why Mary Berry really quit Great British Bake Off after seven years

The Great British Bake Offreturns to Channel 4tonight - with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith back in the tent judging the bakers alongside hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.

It's been eight years since the show moved over to BBC and beloved judge Dame Mary Berrystepped down - but why did she decide to quit? Well, it was announced in 2016 that the show would be moving over to Channel 4, after the show's production company, Love Productions, sold the broadcasting rights.

It wasn't just Berry who decided to stay with the BBC. Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins also made the decision to stay - although Paul Hollywood, who starred alongside them at the time made the decision to move over to Channel 4.

READ MORE: Bake Off host Noel Fielding's rare public appearances and health battles that led to TV axe

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"My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one," Mary said in a statement.

"What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of seven years of magic in a tent. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change, I hope they understand my decision. The Bake Off family - Paul, Mel and Sue have given me so much joy and laughter."

"I wish the programme, crew and future bakers every possible success and I am so very sad not to be a part of it," before she joked: "Farewell to soggy bottoms!"

But does the star still watch the show? Well the answer is no, she previously told the Mirror.

Speaking about This Morning star Alison Hammond being announced as co-presenter in 2023, the 90-year-old said: “I hope she’s very good. They’ve had a good swap round since I left. But they’re all good, they bring a different way of life to Bake Off.”

However, Mary admitted she wouldn't be tuning into the show - as she continued: “I don’t actually watch Bake Off – you can imagine, being married to me, there’s a lot of food about, so we don’t watch much cooking on telly.”

The new season will kick off at 8pm, and will see 12 new bakers take to the tent - and Paul Hollywood expects to be handing out a lot of hand shakes.

"The standard’s still the same, but the standard of baking overall since series one has got better and better," he said.

"That’s not to take anything away from the bakers in series one, they were of their time, but the baking has improved. The challenges are a little more tricky. But they’ve all risen to the challenge and created things that have been really incredible."

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