Sue Perkins has criticised BBC executives over the treatment of contestants on The Great British Bake Off, revealing that she and former co-host Mel Giedroyc once threatened to walk away from the programme unless its production approach changed.
The 57-year-old presenter opened up about her experiences hosting the baking competition between 2010 and 2016 during an appearance on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast this week.
She recalled how the production team allegedly prioritised dramatic television moments, including making contestants emotional, rather than ensuring they were treated with kindness and respect.
Sue Perkins Confronted BBC Director General Over Contestants’ Treatment
Reflecting on the working environment behind the scenes, Sue explained that she and Mel became increasingly uncomfortable with the way contestants were being treated.
She said the production team was focused on capturing dramatic narratives and creating emotional moments for viewers.
Sue recalled: “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.”
However, she and Mel eventually decided they had had enough of the approach and took their complaints directly to senior BBC management.
She revealed that she unexpectedly found herself speaking on the telephone with the BBC’s director general to demand changes.
“We were raising complaints about behaviours and all the rest of it,” she explained.
Sue added that it was important to ensure contestants entering their workspace were treated with respect, rather than being subjected to intrusive questioning.
“You don’t put a camera in their face and ask about their dead dad. How disgusting,” she said.
Mel And Sue Threatened To Leave During First Day Of Filming
The presenter also recalled how she and Mel had considered leaving the programme almost immediately after filming began in 2010.
The pair had previously spoken about their dissatisfaction with the original production approach, explaining that they wanted the competition to have a warmer and kinder atmosphere.
During the podcast conversation, Sue remembered confronting a producer who asked them to reconsider their position and remain with the show.
She suggested that neither presenter was particularly concerned about the possibility of losing their jobs if standing up for contestants meant challenging the production team.
“We didn’t… We’re just grumpy women who went, ‘we’ll get sacked,'” she recalled.
Sue also admitted that speaking out against workplace behaviour had affected her career, claiming she had lost several professional opportunities as a result.
“I’ve lost so much work from going, ‘you can’t treat people like this’ and I’m the one that gets my P45,” she said.
Sue Previously Questioned The Show’s Emotional Storytelling
The presenter has previously spoken about her preference for a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere on The Great British Bake Off.
In an interview with The Guardian, she explained that she and Mel wanted the programme to focus on enjoyment rather than deliberately creating distressing moments.
She said: “We’re quite cheesy and homespun and we just want to have a laugh.”
Sue also questioned the appeal of watching contestants cry, particularly when television production techniques could be used to create those emotional reactions.
“Who wants to see people crying? I don’t. Especially if you work in television and you know the mechanisms that have been used to make them cry,” she added.
Mel And Sue Resigned After Bake Off’s Move To Channel 4
Although the pair continued presenting the programme for several years, Sue and Mel eventually left in September 2016 after learning that The Great British Bake Off would be moving from the BBC to Channel 4.
Sue explained that they discovered the decision through a news report rather than receiving direct communication from the programme’s management.
She said their departure was not driven by personal hostility towards anyone involved in the decision.
“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?'” she said.
The presenters subsequently stepped away from the competition rather than continuing with its new broadcaster.
Alison Hammond And Noel Fielding Now Present Bake Off
Sue and Mel’s departure marked the end of their six-year presenting partnership on the baking competition.
Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are now the programme’s presenters.
The judging line-up has also undergone changes, with Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood this year following Dame Prue Leith’s departure.
Sue’s latest comments revisit her experiences on the programme and the disagreements she and Mel had with its production approach during their time as presenters.
