Inside Bake Off's backstage battles - as Sandi reveals 'unhappy' time

With its floral bunting, pastel Kitchen Aids and cutesy cake stands, viewers may assume the Great British Bake Off tent is nothing but a warm and friendly place to work.

But for Sandi Toksvig, it seems this was simply not the case.

Earlier this week, the  Danish-British comedian - who co-hosted the show from 2017-2020 - revealed that her Bake Off stint felt like 'the longest three years of her life'.

In an interview with The Times, Sandi admitted that her psychotherapist wife Debbie eventually convinced her to quit as she 'wasn't happy'.

Although Sandi has made a lifelong friend in judge Prue Leith, the star said she hasn't maintained 'much' of a relationship with Paul Hollywood as he's 'so busy'.

When asked if she remained friends her former co-host Noel Fielding, who has presented the show since its move to Channel 4 in 2017, Sandi curtly replied: 'No.'

What's more, Sandi's replacement Matt Lucas also had a relatively short tenure and left after three years in 2023 - prompting Alison Hammond to step into the role later that year.  

Despite being heralded as the most 'wholesome' show on British screens, Bake Off has weathered its fair share of PR storms in its 14-year run. 

Here FEMAIL delves into the dark side of the nation's favourite series.

Sandi Toksvig had been 'desperate to leave amid backstage tensions' 

In January 2020, Sandi Toksvig announced that she was stepping down as a Bake Off presenter.

At the time, Noel Fielding issued a heartfelt statement where he said he 'felt like Tom without Jerry' while Paul Hollywood said Sandi would 'always be part of the Bake Off family'.

Shortly after, it was reported that Sandi had been 'desperate to leave' the show and had taken to hiding in her dressing room. 

Speaking to The Sun, a source claimed: 'The atmosphere on set had been lively and upbeat, but as time went on Sandi seemed to be enjoying it less and less and just didn't want to get involved. 

'She spent most of her time hiding out in what looked like a bijou shepherd's hut she'd had set up, knitting on her own — and quite often grumbling about it all'. 

They added that as time went on, everyone began to feel uncomfortable and that it became obvious that she 'wanted out as soon as possible'. 

Sandi is thought to have received £200,000 per series for Bake Off, and claimed in January 2018 that she was the highest paid star on the programme. 

At the time, Sandi said she was leaving the show to focus on her other projects - but revealed this week that it was her wife who encouraged her to quit because she wasn't happy.

She added: 'I walked away from the biggest paycheque of my life, but that’s fine. I’d never watched it. I still haven’t watched it. 

'I didn’t understand it. Cakes are readily available in the shops. I didn’t enjoy the process.'

Matt Lucas' short tenure after 'difficult' start with Noel

Following Sandi's departure, Little Britain star Matt Lucas took over the reins as Noel Fielding's co-host.

While the first season was still airing, Matt hinted at his difficulty settling into the role while appearing on Rob Brydon's podcast.

In the interview, Matt said that he 'got better laughs' when he was working with David Walliams, who 'taught him so much'.

He said: 'I think that when I was watching the Bake Off which I've just started hosting and I was like, "Oh I should have done a gag there, oh why did you do that?"

'So I think that's just a natural thing.'

Meanwhile, Noel also opened up about his 'weird' dynamic with Matt when he first joined the show.

Speaking to the Radio Times, the longest-standing Bake Off host - who shot to fame for starring in The Mighty Boosh with Julian Barrett - said: 'With Matt it was a bit weird, because we’re mates and are probably the same low-status person from our respective double acts.

'It was more difficult to find how we worked together, but we managed to find a way.' 

What's more, Noel Fielding revealed that Matt once told him to 'f*** off' during the filming of The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up to Cancer - where the Little Britain star had to step in for a contestant. 

Appearing on the Off Menu podcast, Noel explained: 'I just came up and was laughing at him and he was like, "Oh, f*** off [...] I’m really sorry, I’m just really stressed."

'I was like, "Are you joking?" but it really got to him. I think he felt extra pressure because he was supposed to be good or something.'

In December 2022, Matt announced that he had quit Bake Off to focus on his Fantasy Football League show, which was cancelled just 16 months later. 

Paul's 'feud' with Mary Berry and 'going with the dough' to Channel 4

In September 2016, it was announced that the Great British Bake Off was moving from the BBC to Channel 4 after negotiations between Love Productions and the Beeb broke down. 

At the time, the Mirror reported that Channel 4 paid £75m for the rights to the show - while the BBC offered £15m per series, which was double what it previously paid. 

The production company's decision threw the show into disarray and prompted the hugely popular co-hosts Sue Perks and Mel Giedroyc to step down.

The pair issued a statement where they said they were 'shocked and saddened' that the series was not going to remain on the BBC.

They said: 'We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was.

'The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 at its peak.

'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.'

Shortly after, judge Mary Berry announced that she would also be leaving the series out of loyalty to the BBC.

Her statement read: '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. Farewell to soggy bottoms.'

However, Paul Hollywood was the only original cast member to 'go with the dough' and move to Channel 4. 

Speaking to The Times in 2022, Paul revealed he was 'called every name under the sun' for not taking the same stance as his former colleagues.

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Sandi Toksvig reveals why she walked away from the 'biggest pay cheque of her life' hosting Bake Off

He said: 'It hurt me. After a while, though, I got tough. I just thought, "OK, I'll be your bad guy."'

In 2017, just one year after the controversial Channel 4 move, Paul's ex-wife Alex announced that their marriage was over - after the Bake Off star had an affair with Marcela Valladolid, his co-judge on the American spin-off of the series.

The chef wrote on Instagram: 'My own marriage was too overseasoned with extramarital affairs for my taste and so I opted out and chose the single menu instead.'

The following year, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood both appeared at the Good Food Show in Birmingham.

According to The Sun, Mary - who remained close with Alex Hollywood - refused a photo op with her former co-judge. At the time, the Bake Off judge was dating 23-year-old Summer Monteys-Fullam.

After giving his younger girlfriend an 'icy stare', Mary reportedly said of Paul: 'He is always working an angle.'

A source said: 'Mary was close to Paul’s wife and has been disgusted by his treatment of her so it has soured their relationship.

'She also was disappointed that he continued to do Bake Off on Channel 4 which she felt showed a lack of character.'

Mel and Sue 'quit on day one' 

Before its move to Channel 4 in 2016, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc presented the series for six years.

However, the pair previously revealed that they quit on their first day of filming all the way back in 2010.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Mel explained: 'On day one we had quite a frank chat with the producers.'

Sue added: 'We resigned, basically because it was not a kind show. 

'They were pointing cameras in the bakers' faces and making them cry and saying, "Tell us about your dead gran."'

That said, the presenters ironed out their issues with the producers and remained in place for the next six years.