‘Arrogant’ BBC bosses accused of ‘SABOTAGING’ shows by Great British Bake Off producers
THE BBC have been accused of stealing celebrities from shows from the firm behind The Great British Bake Off.
BBC Great British Bake Off Claudia Winkleman Sara Cox Love Productions
Trailer for Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off
According to The Sun, sources say Love Productions believe the broadcaster is hiring famous faces for their own shows instead.
These are said to include Claudia Winkleman and Sara Cox, who have fronted The Great British Sewing Bee and The Great Pottery Throwdown respectively.
The Strictly Come Dancing favourite, 45, is now the new star of Britain’s Best Cook while the latter, 42, is presenting BBC Two’s Back In Time For Tea.
Negotiations regarding their previous programmes are thought to have “stalled” with the future of Bake Off: Creme de la Creme “hanging in the balance”.
The BBC have been accused of stealing talent by Great British Bake Off producers
Great British Sewing Bee's Claudia Winkleman is now fronting Britain's Best Cook
There’s a view in the industry that the BBC is acting out of spite
An insider told the newspaper: “The sheer arrogance of it all is astonishing. Not only has the BBC effectively ripped off Love formats and made their own, they are stonewalling existing shows that have been good for ratings for them.”
They continued: “Sewing Bee and Pottery Throwdown have both done really well but now their hosts have both been nicked for other BBC shows.
“There’s a view in the industry that the BBC is acting out of spite and not in the best interest of the licence fee payer.”
Sara Cox on The Great Pottery Throwdown
The Great British Sewing Bee: And the winner is...
The future of Creme de la Creme is also said to hang in the balance
Meanwhile, a BBC source added: “This is odd as Claudia and Sara are established BBC talent and and you can’t poach talent you already have.
"On top of that we’ve made a cracking offer for another series of Sewing Bee.
“Love have a lot riding on moving Bake Off to Channel 4 and are clearly feeling the heat.”
Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for the BBC asking for comment.