It’s not all bad news though, as the BBC’s director of content, Charlotte Moore, has hinted that there’s a very special cooking project in the works – and it looks set to reunite Mary, Mel, Sue, and Nadiya Hussain.

She told The Sun: “There will be more news on what Mary Berry, Mel and Sue and Nadiya are doing next. Watch this space – some exciting news to come.”

BBC representatives refused to give any further details about the project, or even to confirm that it would be a baking show… but we’re very hopeful indeed.

For now, though, let’s all have ourselves a Mary Berry Christmas, and make the yuletide gay. It’s the only way to ensure that our troubles will be far away…

The Great Christmas Bake Off: Watch the action-packed trailer