Great British Bake Off: Mel and Sue to leave show when it moves to Channel 4

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will step down as hosts of The Great British Bake Off Credit: PA

Presenting duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc will not return to host the Great British Bake Off when it moves to Channel 4, a spokeswoman confirmed.

The pair have fronted the show since it first aired on BBC2 in 2010, alongside judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

The presenters have been a formidable team, with their "good cop, bad cop" approach and their many double entendres.

Their innuendo-laced references to things such as soggy bottoms and hot baps, as well as comments such as "You have got two hours to pop Mary's cherry ... ", have been a hit with viewers.

On Monday the BBC said it would love to have kept Bake Off, but it had not been able to afford it.

According to BBC News, the corporation is believed to have offered Love Productions, the producers of the popular baking programme, £15 million per year to keep the show but Channel 4 has reportedly agreed to pay £25 million a year for a three-year deal.

Channel 4 said it was "very proud" to be the new home for the series.

It is not yet known if Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will stay as judges on the show when it moves.