Sue Perkins has revealed she complained about the treatment of contestants during her time hosting The Great British Bake Off, saying the show's producers pushed for dramatic storylines at the expense of the bakers.
The 57-year-old TV presenter fronted the programme alongside co-host Mel Giedroyc for six years until 2016, when the pair left after the show moved from the BBC to Channel 4.
Complaints over contestant treatment
Speaking on the How To Fail podcast, Perkins said she and Giedroyc raised complaints about behaviours on the show. She described how producers sought the most dramatic narrative, adding: "It was always like 'get the narrative', but get the most dramatic narrative and make people cry and that's what they tried to do. And then we just said, 'We've had enough of this.'"
The pair had previously revealed they nearly quit on the first day of filming, frustrated by how the show was run, and asked producers for a kinder format.
Perkins recalled: "And we walked out and for some reason I found myself on the phone to the director general of the BBC and I have no idea why. We were raising complaints about behaviours and all the rest of it."
Respect for contestants
She added: "It just seemed very important in that moment that when people were entering our office, our workspace, that we treated them with respect. You don't put a camera in their face and ask about their dead dad. How disgusting."
The BBC, which broadcast the show at the time, and Love Productions, which makes it, have been contacted for comment.
Departure from the show
Mel and Sue quit in 2016 after learning the show was moving to Channel 4. They claim they found out through the news rather than being told directly. Perkins said: "There's no antagonism there. I just think, 'If you're going to let us find out that way [from TV], then we're not really a team, are we?'"
The show is now hosted by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, with Nigella Lawson judging alongside Paul Hollywood following Prue Leith's exit. Leith said of her departure: "I didn't give it up because I didn't like it – I loved it. And when I watched Nigella Lawson doing her first episode – and by the way, I think she's terrific at it – I did feel a pang. I thought, 'Why did I leave? That was such a great job.' But I'm glad I did."
