Great British Bake Off spin-off Creme De La Creme is moving from the BBC to Channel 4

Channel 4 has tightened its grip on The Great British Bake Off franchise by snatching spin-off Creme De La Creme from the BBC.

The professional version of the hit baking contest, Creme De La Creme sees teams of the UK’s finest pastry chefs go head-to-head.

It remained on BBC Two for its second run, which went out in April and May, after the main Bake Off moved channels last year.

That arrangement is no more, as today it’s been revealed that Creme has also jumped ship.

Channel 4 has now acquired the rights to the format, a spokesperson for the broadcaster confirmed to Digital Spy.

It is currently unclear whether host Angus Deayton and judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden will return for Creme’s third series, expected to air in 2018.

A source commented to The Sun: “This is the end of an era as BBC bids goodbye to Bake Off once and for all.

“After letting go of the biggest show on TV, clinging to Creme De La Creme would have been a way for them to save face.

“But Channel 4 have even pounced on that in order to truly dominate the Bake Off brand.”

The move means that C4 has picked up three of Bake Off’s four incarnations.

In addition to the original and professional versions, bosses are planning celebrity specials in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

However, question marks remain over the kids’ spin-off, Junior Bake Off.

It has aired four series on the CBBC channel, the most recent featuring popular GBBO winner Nadiya Hussain as a judge.

C4’s first edition of the main Bake Off began in August, and this week revealed its final four contestants.

Kate, Sophie, Stacey and Steven face a patisserie-themed semi-final on Tuesday at 8.00pm.