It’s been a rough week for fans of The Great British Bake Off—the last bastion of decency in competition television—with news coming that pun-loving hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc would be departing the show when it moves from the BBC to Channel 4 next season. Now, that soggy bottom has gotten soggier still, with rumors continuing to build that judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood might also not be making the jump.
According to The Sun, a source close to the show has said that Berry and Hollywood are weighing their options (presumably in a professional, gentle, welcoming manner). “Mary and Paul believe the show works because of Mel and Sue,” the source said. “It’s always been the four of them together. They are all really close and constantly hang out together in between filming.”
If Berry—an author of over 70 cookbooks—and bread expert Hollywood do leave the tent, it’ll open up a major gap in one of Britain’s most-watched shows. Reportedly, Channel 4 might be looking to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to fill that spot, like the delicious cream filling in a well-rotated Swiss roll, or a baking pun in an article about The Great British Bake Off. Oliver was approached about the rumors earlier this week, though, and denied them, saying “As much as I would get massive cred from my kids for having any kinda role, I’ve totally got my hands full. Even if I was asked, which I haven’t been.”