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GBBO hosts criticised over huge wages for Stand Up To Cancer celeb specials

Paul Hollywood reportedly pocketed over £100,000 for the specials. (Channel 4)
Paul Hollywood reportedly pocketed over £100,000 for the specials. (Channel 4)

It’s been reported that the presenters of the Great British Bake Off charity specials earned thousands from their appearance, despite it being for a good cause.

The recent celeb specials were seen to be doing a lot of good as it invited the likes of Alan Carr and Teri Hatcher to appear on the show in the name of Stand Up To Cancer, with each star donating their fee to charity.

However, it’s been revealed that the current judging panel of Noel Fielding, 44, Prue Leith, 78, Sandi Toksvig, 59, and Paul Hollywood, 52, were paid significant sums of cash to host the specials.

With each person earning thousands, the Sun reported that Hollywood scooped up to £117,500 for his charity special appearances.

The celebs in this year’s competition donated their fees to the charity. (Channel 4)
The celebs in this year’s competition donated their fees to the charity. (Channel 4)

A TV insider said: ‘None of the celebrity bakers took any money as there entire fees were donated to Stand Up To Cancer.

‘But the presenters and judges all took a massive payday as part of their wider new Bake Off contracts. It’s pretty appalling.

‘Viewers are going to be furious that Paul, Prue, Noel, and Sandi took huge sums when the show was presented as a charity project,’ they said, with the knowledge that the big names who featured as the show’s cooking hopefuls didn’t take home a penny.

‘Channel 4 bosses claim the four donated a portion of their fee to the charity, but refused to say what percentage.’

The Channel 4 press team have since released a statement to address the criticism its judges have come under, reiterating that their ‘aim is to raise as much money as possible for Stand Up To Cancer and 100% of the money raised goes directly to the charity.’

They also said that the names who are ‘already contracted for long running series also make significant donations’ in the wake of the accusations that its hosts have profited hugely off of the fund-raising series.

The statement is still vague over their overall fees and what potion they donated to SUTC; which still suggests that some (or all) of its hosts kept a chunk of their fee while others did it for free.

A production insider insisted any decision to keep or donate their fee was their choice: ‘It was up to them to decide what to donate.

‘The show involved a big time commitment for filming several episodes and doing voiceovers later.

‘Celebrity contestants who took part, like Alan Carr and Harry Hill, weren’t paid at all.

‘Their fees went straight to the charity.’

The hosts of this year’s celeb GBBO have come under fire for big fees for a charity gig. (PA)
The hosts of this year’s celeb GBBO have come under fire for big fees for a charity gig. (PA)

During the celeb series final, comedian Carr, 41, made a good point about the nature of the programme and what it stands for: ‘At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if your cakes taste delicious or they are rubbish, we’re all doing it for Stand Up To Cancer.’

Yahoo Celebrity has reached out to Paul Hollywood for comment.

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