Mary Berry has announced she has quit The Great British Bake Off ahead of the show's move from the BBC to Channel 4.
The TV presenter and culinary expert has released the following statement announcing her departure from the show after seven years:
"What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of 7 years of magic in a tent - The Great British Bake Off. The Bake Off family - Paul, Mel and Sue have given me so much joy and laughter."
"My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change, I hope they understand my decision.
"I wish the programme, crew and future bakers every possible success and I am so very sad not to be a part of it.
"Farewell to soggy bottoms,"she added.
Meanwhile, Mary's fellow judge Paul Hollywood has agreed to sign up for another three years on the show.
In a statement, Hollywood said:
“I am delighted that I will be continuing as a judge when Bake Off moves to Channel 4. I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding.”
“Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life. The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories. Best of all, I have felt so pleased to experience other people getting the baking bug, just as I did when my dad helped me make my first loaf.
Paul says the show has “been a huge part of my life in the past few years and I just couldn’t turn my back on all that – the bakers themselves, the bakes, the team that makes it, and of course the tent, the bunting, and who could forget… the squirrels”.
Last week, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins stepped down as hosts of the show. A spokesperson for the duo confirmed the pair will not present the programme when it moves from BBC to Channel 4.
It's after it was announced the corporation had lost the rights to broadcast the hit show.
A joint statement said: "We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home.
"We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was."
The statement continued: "We've had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.
"We're not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success."
GBBO was the BBC's most-watched programme of 2015, with 13.4 million people in the UK alone tuning in to watch the final. It hasn't been decided which network will feature the 2017 series.
Mel and Sue have fronted the show since it first aired on BBC2 in 2010.
