Sceptical viewers are unimpressed with the first photo of Channel 4's Bake Off line-up as one likens Noel and Sandi to a 'single mum and her goth son'

  • New photograph shows Paul, Sandi, Noel and Prue standing in front of cake table
  • It was released by Channel 4 earlier today ahead of the new series this year
  • Sandi, Noel and Prue have replaced presenters Mel and Sue and judge Mary
  • Several Twitter users revealed their disappointment while others were hopeful 

By Isobel Frodsham and Andrew Bullock For Mailonline

Published: 04:26 EDT, 14 April 2017 | Updated: 08:51 EDT, 14 April 2017

Baking fans have revealed their scepticism over the new Great British Bake Off line-up after Channel 4 released the first official image.

Published on Twitter at 12am today, Bake Off alum Paul Hollywood, 51, presenter Sandi Toksvig, 58, comedian Noel Fielding, 43, and cookery school founder Prue Leith, 77, are seen holding cupcakes as they stand in front of a table filled with Victoria sponges and other baked goods.

But Great British Bake Off viewers have shown they are unimpressed with the new line up - with one viewer claiming Noel and Sandi look like a 'single mum and her goth son'.

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It's had a Bake Over! Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding and Prue Leith cosy up in FIRST official photo from Channel 4's new GBBO (and has the tent been relocated to a forest?)

It's had a Bake Over! Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding and Prue Leith cosy up in FIRST official photo from Channel 4's new GBBO (and has the tent been relocated to a forest?)

Out with the old: The void left by exiting presenters Sue Perkins, Mary Berry and Mel Giedroyc is sure to rattle a few fans [pictured with Paul in a BBC promo shot for the old version of the show]

Out with the old: The void left by exiting presenters Sue Perkins, Mary Berry and Mel Giedroyc is sure to rattle a few fans [pictured with Paul in a BBC promo shot for the old version of the show]

Between I and K wrote 'You can tell just by looking that this show is under proofed and overworked'

Between I and K wrote 'You can tell just by looking that this show is under proofed and overworked'

Sophie likened Sandi and Noel to a 'single mum and her goth son' much to the amusement of Twitter users

Sophie likened Sandi and Noel to a 'single mum and her goth son' much to the amusement of Twitter users

Danny Hayes likened the new presenting line up as a father introducing his children to his other family

Danny Hayes likened the new presenting line up as a father introducing his children to his other family

One fan said: 'You can tell just by looking that this show is under proofed and overworked.' (sic)

Twitter user Chloe was also pessimistic and said: 'Name a bigger downgrade, i'll wait.'

Others used memes and jokey images to show their sadness over the line up change.

One person, called Jas, used a series of images which said the change in presenters and judges was an 'upgrade' that he hoped would 'go back', while Leanne Evision used a photograph of Batman saying 'I don't want this'.

Daniel Pashley said he hoped for the apocalypse as he didn't like the new presenters 

Daniel Pashley said he hoped for the apocalypse as he didn't like the new presenters 

Chloe described the announcement as a 'big downgrade' from Mel, Sue and Mary Berry

Chloe described the announcement as a 'big downgrade' from Mel, Sue and Mary Berry

Leanne Evison used a funny photograph of Batman saying 'I don't want this' to show her despair

Leanne Evison used a funny photograph of Batman saying 'I don't want this' to show her despair

But some of the show's fans were more open minded - and even upbeat.

One said: 'Why's everyone hating on the new #gbbo line up. I am so excited for Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding to start a bromance.'

Another wrote: 'It doesn't bother me at all - I like Sandi and Noel and I think it will be every bit as good as it was on the BBC. You'll see! #GBBO'

It was revealed Channel 4 would be airing the show in 2017 after Love Productions, the company that makes the show, confirmed that they had parted ways with the BBC in September.

Jude however, said Sandi and Noel are 'funnier than Mel and Sue' showing he has high hopes for the new series

Jude however, said Sandi and Noel are 'funnier than Mel and Sue' showing he has high hopes for the new series

Mr Hollywood is the only returning member of the original series, which previously featured Mary Berry as a judge and Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as presenters.

Reports have hinted that the major changes in the Bake Off presenters and judges have led the producers to decide that the setting of Welford Park will still be used for filming, and that the tent will be back.

But little more can be deduced from the singular image, released by Channel 4 and Love Productions.

Channel 4 confirmed in March that Sandi and Noel would be replacing Mel and Sue, while Prue will take Mary's role.

Newbies: Veteran cook Prue [L] made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel [R] - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit
Newbies: Veteran cook Prue [L] made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel [R] - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit

Newbies: Veteran cook Prue [L] made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel [R] - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit

Hostess with the mostess: The show's hosts Sandi Toksvig [pictured as the host of QI] and Noel Fielding stand in the middle, grinning from ear-to-ear in the new Channel 4 promo shot

Hostess with the mostess: The show's hosts Sandi Toksvig [pictured as the host of QI] and Noel Fielding stand in the middle, grinning from ear-to-ear in the new Channel 4 promo shot

The broadcaster is said to have offered Love Productions a £25 million-a-year deal, which was thought to be more than double what the BBC had offered to continue airing the cult cookery show.

Blaming 'more than a year of exhaustive negotiations' on the decision to leave the BBC once and for all, Love Productions signed a three-year contract with Channel 4 instead - a deal that will allegedly involve up to 40 hours of programming each year, including various professional and celebrity editions of the show.

What followed was a few weeks of will they/won't they rumours surrounding the involvement of Paul, Mel, Sue and Mary - with viewers desperate to know if the full presenting line up would be making the transition to Channel 4 too.

One by one, Mel, Sue and Mary devastated fans by dropping out of any future series, leaving only Paul to accept a new offer, going with the Bake Off to its new home.

Staying put: Paul Hollywood, who is the only returning member of the Bake Off's BBC series, stands proudly with a cherry-topped cupcake next to his trio of new sidekicks in the new photo

Staying put: Paul Hollywood, who is the only returning member of the Bake Off's BBC series, stands proudly with a cherry-topped cupcake next to his trio of new sidekicks in the new photo

Jumping ship: What followed was a few weeks of will they/won't they rumours surrounding the involvement of Paul, Mel, Sue and Mary - with fans desperate to know if the full presenting line up would be making the transition to Channel 4 with the show

Jumping ship: What followed was a few weeks of will they/won't they rumours surrounding the involvement of Paul, Mel, Sue and Mary - with fans desperate to know if the full presenting line up would be making the transition to Channel 4 with the show

Gone but not forgotten: One by one, Mel, Sue and Mary devastated fans by dropping out of any future series, leaving only Paul to accept a new offer, going with the Bake Off to its new home

Gone but not forgotten: One by one, Mel, Sue and Mary devastated fans by dropping out of any future series, leaving only Paul to accept a new offer, going with the Bake Off to its new home

Over the last six months, the BBC has announced rival cooking series, some of which featuring Bake Off alum, and the rumour mill has thrown out names of all kinds of presenter and judge replacements.

Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith were floated as Mary's potential successor, while French & Saunders were suggested as an obvious Mel & Sue swap.

But veteran cook Prue made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit.

Judging by his strawberry jumper, he seems set on proving his doubters wrong. 

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