I didn’t realise Love Productions wasn’t one of them there independent TV programme makers. Oh no. The company that tried to quadruple its fees for broadcasting a show about baking cakes, the Great British Bake Off (GBBO), is 70% owned by Sky. I see another conspiracy here. Rupert Murdoch is involved. How could you not?
Cards on the table, I pay my dirty money to Sky which is 39% owned by Murdoch to watch a lot of sport. I console myself with the optimistic thought that as Murdoch doesn’t own 61% of Sky, it’s less likely to be under his complete influence. But did you see the Sun today? No, nor me, but it was the usual hatchet job on the BBC, the corporation Murdoch would love, more than anything, to get rid of. The BBC could not win here.
In refusing to pay £25m a year to host a show in a tent about competitive cake-making, Auntie has come under criticism. I don’t blame her at all. But is this simply greed by Love Productions, or is there another force at work?
As the most popular show on TV, the BBC would have been gutted to lose the GBBO, but what if they had stumped up the money demanded by Rupert Murdoch’c company? Can you imagine what his poodles at the Sun would have said on the Dirty Digger’s behalf? It was surely a cynical move to ensnare the BBC in a pincer movement. Pay up and get slated or don’t pay up and don’t get slated. Either way, the drip drip affect of Murdoch’s poisonous attack on the BBC continues.
Now that GBBO has gone to C4, Mel and Sue, the brilliant presenters (I am told) are not going with it. Good. I hope also that Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood don’t go either. Then, Murdoch’s sneaky company will have to start from scratch and hope that the new presenters and judges gel from the start, that the chemistry kicks in straight away, just like it didn’t with the new Top Gear. And then, the BBC comes up with a new vehicle for all the ex presenters and judges of GBBO and everyone’s happy.
Wishful thinking on my part? Maybe. But just for once, wouldn’t it be good to see Murdoch stuffed and not in a good way?
