'Great British Bake Off' judge Prue Leith thinks the show will succeed without "cookie-girl comedians" like Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
Prue Leith
The 77-year-old restaurateur insisted the hit series - which has moved from the BBC to Channel 4 - has selected a winning team with its new hosts 'QI' presenter Sandi Toksvig and 'The Mighty Boosh' star Noel Fielding because they are "very different" from the old formula.
Prue - who joins Paul Hollywood as a judge inside the tent - said: "I think what would have been fatal is if they had tried to simply do exactly the same thing and replace Mary with someone very like Mary and to replace Sue and Mel with similar cookie-girl comedians.
"I think it would have been really hard to get it right. But if we're all very different, it will be different.
"The main thing that will not change is the contestants because they want to make sure they're good bakers."
What's more, Prue thinks Sandi's quick wit and intelligence will attract a wider audience and boost figures.
She added: "She is one of the funniest women I've ever met.
"She's just naturally funny. She has to spark off and make jokes. She just lifts the level of conversation, she makes it funny.
"She's quite sardonic and so well-read and intelligent.
"I honestly think it will change Bake Off a bit and gather more viewers who are her fans because they like that wit and that knowledge."
Prue is delighted wild comedian Noel has signed up because her children Danny and Li-Da, both 42, will now watch the show.
She added to The Sun newspaper: "I've only heard of him because my children just adored him. They don't watch Bake Off but they do watch him. My daughter said rather rudely, 'Well now he's in it I might watch it'. I was like, 'What about me?'"
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