Mel and Sue added that they would not “follow the dough” to a rival channel.

Hollywood, however, signed a three-year contract with Channel 4, rumoured to be worth £1 million.

Insisting his decision had nothing to do with the money involved, he later said that the show “been a huge part of my life in the past few years and I just couldn’t turn my back on all that – the bakers themselves, the bakes, the team that makes it, and of course the tent, the bunting, and who could forget… the squirrels”.

The show is confirmed to return to our screens this year – and applications are now being accepted online.

Images: Rex Pictures, Love Productions

Words: Kayleigh Dray

Great British Bake Off fans, the new line-up has been confirmed