Why Did Mel Giedroyc Leave Bake Off?

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins’ seven-series tenure as hosts of The Great British Bake Off nearly did not happen after they resigned on the first day of filming.

The pair have revealed that they quit because they feared producers wanted to make a more intrusive and crueller show than they were happy with.

Mel and Sue’s chemistry and gentle presenting style were a big part of the programme’s success as it grew from an audience of 2 million on BBC Two to nearly 16 million at its peak on BBC One.

The pair have worked together on stage and television since they met over 32 years ago at Cambridge University.

They said they only continue with Bake Off after a frank discussion with the producers about the nature of the programme.