Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A former Great British Bake Off contestant from Cardiff has described her disappointment at the hit show heading to Channel 4.

Beca Lyne-Pirkis said she couldn’t quite believe the news when she first saw it on Twitter .

Beca, who took part in series four and left in week nine, said: “A lot of my followers on Twitter were upset and my neighbours even came over saying they couldn’t believe the news. I just felt gutted.

“It’s really difficult to say what it will be like on Channel 4 but all of us fans just want it to be as it is.”

'Quintessentially British'

Love Productions, the company behind the show, announced negotiations with the BBC broke down and Channel 4 is set to take over the rights .

Occasional TV presenter and food writer Beca said: “It is a quintessentially British show and one I think is a BBC show.

(Image: BBC)

“I’m not sure if I would have applied if it was on a different channel to the BBC.

“But I am glad, and I’m not sure why, that it went to Channel 4 instead of ITV.

“I think it’s because Channel 4 have a bit more experience with cooking shows.”

Frequently lacing the show with innuendos, current presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins have since announced that they will no longer host the show following its move.

Beca, from Penylan, said: “Mel and Sue are Great British Bake Off through and through. They helped make the show what it is.

“They were absolutely lovely on the show – they were always there if one of us was upset and in the lunch breaks they would come and sit with us.”

The fate of the other two stars of the show – judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood – remains unknown.

Although Beca said she wasn’t privy to any insider information she said she had a hunch Paul will stay and Mary will go.

One of the biggest complaints by fans of the show is that adverts will now break up shots of the macaroons and the finger fancies .

'Hole in schedule'

The 34-year-old said: “I’m just not sure if people will put up with the adverts. A lot of people have told me that they’ll just record the show and then fast-forward through the adverts.”

How the BBC will respond to the loss of the show, which often gets more than 13m viewers, is yet to be seen.

Beca said: “Obviously the BBC now has a big hole in its schedule and its budget but I’m not sure how they’ll respond to the loss.”

Beca will be taking a break from baking on Sunday as she takes part in the Roald Dahl City of the Unexpected celebrations in Cardiff by helping judge the pyjama picnic.

Channel 4’s first attempt at the show will reportedly be a celebrity version in aid of Stand Up To Cancer in 2017.