Great British Bake Off 2017: New stars WON'T be watching the Channel 4 programme
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF returns next Tuesday, but the new stars of the show have already ruled out watching the broadcast.
Trailer for Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off
When Love Productions sold the show to Channel 4, fans of the programme were in uproar with many refusing to move from the BBC.
Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins bowed out of the move along with judging favourite Mary Berry.
However, new judge Prue Leith and host Sandi Toksvig have told how they will not watch the new series.
Speaking to press including Express.co.uk at a screening for the first episode, Prue said: "I do know what I want and it's true that I've had 50 or more years experience, which I'd rather Paul Hollywood didn't keep pointing out. It's not difficult to do the arithmetic.
Great British Bake Off 2017: New stars WON'T be watching the Channel 4 programme
If you ask me if I've seen much of the show, the answer is no because I really cannot bear to watch myself
"I'm sort of famously blunt. If you ask me if I've seen much of the show, the answer is no because I really cannot bear to watch myself.
"I know Sandi is exactly the same. I'm sure Sandi just does it because she's too busy on the next show or she hasn't got time, but I can't watch myself on television because I'm so b****y vain that I can't bear… I can't bear it!"
She continued: "I keep thinking, 'Why is that cameraman going around the back and taking all my fat places? Why isn't he up here so he can't see my double chin?' and I don't listen to what's going on."
Sandi added: "No. I don't watch myself. I try not to watch myself on the telly. Of course I've watched it because I recorded the voiceovers, so I am hugely proud of the programme, but mostly I have to say that I've made a great group of new friends. It ought to be illegal to have that much fun at work."
The Great British Bake Off 2017: Channel 4 unveil this year's bakers
New co-host Noel Fielding added that they could be "let off" for not watching the show as they were there in person, teasing: "We were there. I saw it with my human eyes at the time."
Continuing judge Paul revealed that this year's series will see the highest standard of contestants yet.
He said: "The standard this year is the best yet. Yes, absolutely. It just gets better. It's incredible. It's been going up every year so it is a natural progression. I check out the previous contestants on Twitter and feel like a proud dad."
The Great British Bake Off 2017: Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding
The Great British Bake Off 2017: Channel 4's first set of baking contestants
He then revealed that he would not be looking at the viewer reaction on social media during the broadcasts, as Prue changed her mind on watching the show following the screening reaction.
Prue added: "Actually, for the first time I was watching it there and listening, and we're all talking and just went quiet because we all got completely hooked. So I think I'm going to watch Bake Off."
The Great British Bake Off launches on Channel 4 on August 29 at 8pm.