Mary Berry wasn't even asked by Channel 4 to return to The Great British Bake Off

Fans of The Great British Bake Off were left unimpressed last year when it was announced that the BBC favourite will be moving to Channel 4 as of this year.

Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins immediately announced that they won’t be moving with the show, with judge Mary Berry shortly following suit.

Now the 81-year-old baking legend has admitted that she wasn’t even asked to return to the show by Channel 4 after she craftily avoided meeting with them.

Asked if she was ever tempted to move with the show, Mary told The Radio Times magazine: “Well, I avoided being asked.

“It was suggested what would happen if I did go to Channel 4; what I would get, the advantages. But I didn’t ever have a meeting with them.

“I’d made up my mind. To me it’s an honour to be on the BBC. I was brought up on it.”

Mary went on to hint that she was disappointed that her co-judge, Paul Hollywood, agreed to accept the eye-watering fee to move to Channel 4.

She diplomatically shared: “I would always stand by him. Paul and I had our differences about what was important to us but he is a brilliant bread-maker and I admired him a lot.”

Paul and Mary were the judges on the show ever since it launched on the BBC back in 2010.

It is unknown who will be replacing Mary on Channel 4 but 76-year-old restaurateur Prue Leith recently confirmed that she was in the running to join the show.