BBC bosses are convinced ‘The Big Family Cooking Show’ will be a huge success.
The network’s producers were left heartbroken last year when its rival Channel 4 snatched the rights to its hit series ‘The Great British Bake Off’ but it seems they’re no longer bothered about the situation as they’re pouring all of their attention into their new cooking programme as they know it’ll be a big hit with viewers.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, the BBC’s station controller Patrick Holland said: "This was actually commissioned before ‘Bake Off’ went to Channel 4.
"But like all new shows, it’s a great idea and you commission it because you hope people will like it. Programmes grow as the audience likes them and responds to them."
‘The Big Family Cooking Show’ will be presented by Zoe Ball and 2015’s ‘Bake Off’ winner Nadiya Hussain and will be launched on BBC 2 this summer.
While the BBC are busy working on their new cooking series, Channel 4 are pulling out all the stops to ensure they don’t lose any viewers now that ‘Bake Off’ has shifted to them.
The new instalment, which is expected to air later this year, will see Paul Hollywood – who was on the programme when it aired on the BBC – join forces with his new co-judge Prue Leith after Mary Berry turned her back on the series once Channel 4 bought the rights.
Not much is known about the new series but bosses have confirmed that the episodes will run for 75 minutes – instead of an hour – due to the ad breaks that take place on Channel 4.
A spokesperson for the show said: "We have always promised viewers that they would not be short-changed on the show, even though we are an ad-funded channel. The programme will run for 75 minutes to allow that."