Not only will the new Great British Bake Off be longer, Channel 4 will schedule two Christmas specials
Fans of The Great British Bake Off will be treated to two Christmas specials on Channel 4.
The ex-BBC1 show, with Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood as judges and Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig presenting, is set to make its debut on its new home later this year.
It will also return for a pair of hour-long festive specials, Channel 4 confirmed.
Media website Broadcast, which first published news of the specials, said it was not yet known whether the shows would feature celebrity contestants or members of the public.
Channel 4 did not comment on a Daily Star report that a stunt for the show – with Sandi and Noel set to soar above the baking tent in a hot air balloon – was abandoned due to bad weather.
Bake Off stalwart Mary Berry and presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins left the series following its move.
The BBC has come up with a new cookery show, The Big Family Cooking Showdown, featuring Nadiya Hussain and Zoe Ball. Nadiya was crowned Bake Off winner back in 2015.
BBC2's new controller Patrick Holland revealed plans for the new cooking show were in place before the Bake Off moved to Channel 4. He said commissioning the new show was one of the first things he did.
The Big Family Cooking Showdown will see 16 families battle it out to prove their cooking skills to the judges. A series of challenges will be set in the contestants' homes as well as the studio.
Speaking about the new show Nadiya said: "Family and food have always gone hand in hand and I’m looking forward to getting to know the recipes and traditions of the different families taking part. Having been through a food competition as an amateur cook myself, I know exactly how tough it can get and so I’ll be there for them, alongside Zoe, as the pressure really builds!”
The Big Family Cooking Showdown will launch on BBC2 this autumn. The Great British Bake Off is due to launch in the summer.
