Sue Perkins, half of TV duo Mel and Sue, has admitted she finds it “a bit annoying” that The Great British Bake Off has remained a success following their departure.
Mel and Sue were the original presenters of the much-loved baking competition, fronting its first seven series.
However, the pair joined judge Mary Berry in quitting the famous tent when it moved from BBC One to Channel 4 in 2016.
Bake Off still has ten million viewers at its new home, where it’s hosted by Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding.
Last year’s final ranks as C4’s sixth most-watched broadcast of all time.
Now Sue has admitted that she’s secretly gutted the show is still a ratings hit.
“Does it hurt to leave something you really love? Of course it hurts,” she said at an event promoting her new book, East of Croydon (quotes via The Sun).
“And I’m glad it has a life after us, but it’s a bit annoying it’s been so successful.”
Despite this, it seems Sue harbours no regrets about her decision to leave, explaining how she found out about Bake Off’s channel transfer.
“We weren’t treated all that well, we discovered it had been sold not through the usual channels,” she explained.
“You just sort of get to that point where it’s not about money is it? It’s about working relationships, it’s about respect.”
Since they left Bake Off, Mel and Sue have fronted revivals of Lets Sing and Dance for Comic Relief and The Generation Game.
Sue also works on panel show Insert Name Here, while Mel has presented Eurovision Song Contest coverage.
Meanwhile, The Great British Bake Off has reached the end of its ninth series.
The grand final airs tonight at 8.00pm on Channel 4, when Kim-Joy, Rahul or Ruby will be crowned champion.
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