Great British Bake Off winner issues urgent viewer warning ahead of next series-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Candice Brown said viewers will switch off if the show’s essence is changed (Picture: Getty Images)

Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown has urged Channel 4 bosses to ‘not deviate too much from the traditional format.’

The 38-year-old, who was crowned champion of GBBO’s last series on the BBC before moving to the It’s A Sin broadcaster, has warned that viewers will switch off if it ‘strays too far from traditional baking.’

The cook’s plea comes after the most recent outing of the programme recorded its lowest ever viewing figures and was panned by viewers for ‘losing its identity’ and challenges for being ‘inaccessible.’

The season’s Mexican Week was also slammed for being ‘racist’ and perpetuating harmful stereotypes, including a joke made in ‘poor taste’ from the show’s hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.

Delivering her verdict on the future of Great British Bake Off, Candice continued: ‘The show can’t stray too far from traditional baking. 

‘Bake Off is like a warm hug, people are staunch followers and staunch fans and when you start to change things too much that’s when people start to worry… and people love the traditional side of things.

Candice was on the last BBC GBBO before it was poached by Channel 4 (Picture: BBC/Love Productions)

‘They need to try not to lose that real home baking style of things because that’s what people love and that’s what makes the show so special.

She continued to the Mail Online: ‘The show is special because of that complete and utter love of baking and everything surrounding that.

‘I’d like to think it will keep its innocence with regards to that and not deviate too much from the traditional format.’

The season was slammed for its ‘racist’ Mexican Week(Picture: Channel 4)

The last season attracted the lowest ever viewing figures(Credits: Mark Bourdillon)

It appears that GBBO bosses have already taken note, with it reported that the show will be going ‘back to basics’ in a major format shake-up.

An insider revealed: ‘There is a realisation last year’s show didn’t really work.’

‘We’re going to strip it back to basics, with a few twists,’ they added to the Mirror.

Candice said the show needed to continue being a ‘warm hug'(Picture: Shutterstock)

Showrunner and executive producer Richard McKerrow also acknowledged the ingredients that had served the show so well for several years didn’t quite stick.

‘I’d be the first to hold up our hands and say that I feel that the last series was not our strongest,’ he said.

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As well as going back to GBBO’s original DNA, the next season will also see ultimate hun Alison Hammond, who couldn’t be a better choice to save the show, replace Matt as presenter.

Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 later this year.

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