Channel 4 bosses are reportedly interested in signing up pastry chef Cherish Finden as they seek to replace Mary Berry as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.

The award-winning baker, who hails from Singapore, has built up a reputation as quite the hard taskmaster in her role as a judge on Bake Off spin-off show Crème de la Crème.

She was even branded 'evil' by viewers after she made one baker cry with her searing criticisms.

New judge? Channel 4 bosses are reportedly coaxing Singaporean pastry chef Cherish Finden as they seek to replace Mary Berry as a judge on The Great British Bake Off

Her strong words and animated facial expressions would prove a stark contrast to the gentle encouragement offered by the soothing tones of Mary Berry - but sources say she and Paul Hollywood will work well together.

An insider told The Sun: 'Cherish has already worked with makers Love Productions and she was great on screen.

'She's a world-class expert in pastries and cakes so she knows her stuff and will compliment Paul, whose background is more savoury.

'Filling the judge's role will be extremely hard so they know they have to act fast to make sure they've got someone who knows their stuff and has appeared on TV before.'

Hard to impress: Cherish has built up a reputation as quite the hard taskmaster in her role as a judge on Bake Off spin-off show Crème de la Crème

Pedigree: Cherish, who is head pastry chef at the Langham Hotel in central London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year by Craft Guild of Chefs in 2012

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

Cherish, who is head pastry chef at the Langham Hotel in central London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year by Craft Guild of Chefs in 2012 and scored gold at the Culinary World Olympics in 2000.

Her style will strongly contrast with Mary Berry, 81, who has become one of Britain's more unlikely TV stars as a judge on the contest, famed for her kindly perfectionism and dislike of 'soggy bottoms.'

'My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show,' Mary said.

Life without Mary: Her style will strongly contrast with Mary Berry, 81, who has become one of Britain's more unlikely TV stars as a judge on the contest

World-famous: Cherish also scored gold at the Culinary World Olympics in 2000

The BBC announced last week it had lost the rights to Bake Off, which it has broadcast since 2010, after rival Channel 4 offered more money to program maker Love Productions.

The news upset some of the program's millions of fans, because the publicly funded BBC developed and supported the show, taking it from niche curiosity to cultural phenomenon.

Bake Off - in which amateur bakers compete to create elaborate cakes, tortes, trifles and flans - is broadcast in dozens of countries and has spawned similar local shows in several countries.

New pairing? Insiders say Cherish would work well alongside current judge Paul Hollywood

New start: The BBC announced last week it had lost the rights to Bake Off, which it has broadcast since 2010

Hollywood said the show 'has been a huge part of my life in the past few years, and I just couldn't turn my back on all that.'

Co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who set the show's tone of gentle but saucy humor, also are leaving.

Despite the loss of three-quarters of its stars, Love Productions said the show 'will remain wholly familiar.'

'Bake Off will be produced by the same team, in the same tent, with the same recipe,' the company said in a statement.