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Great British Bake Off moves to Channel 4 after BBC loses contract

The Great British Bake Off is moving to Channel 4 after the BBC lost its contract to broadcast the hit show.

Channel 4 and Love Productions, which produces the hit show, have signed a new three-year deal, according to the TV channel.

Jay Hunt, Channel 4's chief creative officer said: "Channel 4 is very proud to be the new home for The Great British Bake Off.

"I'm delighted we have been able to partner with the hugely talented team at Love Productions to keep this much loved show on free-to-air television."

Richard McKerrow, Love Productions' creative director, said the company believed it had "found the perfect new home" for the show.

"It's tremendously exciting to have found a broadcaster who we know will protect and nurture The Great British Bake Off for many years to come."

The first show on Channel 4, to be broadcast next year, will be a celebrity version in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

Earlier it was announced that the current series will be the last shown on the BBC after Love Productions ended contract talks with the national broadcaster.

The production company said in a statement: "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."

A BBC spokesman said: "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."

They had said there was hope the production company would have a change of heart so "Bake Off can stay ad-free on BBC One".

Almost 10.5 million people tuned in for the first episode of the seventh series last month.

Last year's final was most-watched show of 2015, with 15.1 million people seeing Nadiya Hussain crowned Bake Off champion.