Finland and The Netherlands have become the latest countries to make local versions of The Great Bake Off after licensing the format from BBC Worldwide.
Click to tweet: Finland & The Netherlands to make local versions of Great Bake Off #gbo http://bbc.in/13VxUb3 via @BBCWpress
The Love Productions format has now been licensed to 10 countries by BBC Worldwide including France (M6), Australia (Nine Network), Poland (TLC), Belgium (VTM), Ireland (TV3), Denmark (DR), Norway (TV3) and Sweden (TV7/Sjuan) with a further format licence to CBS in the USA by Love Productions meaning the format has now been commissioned in 12 countries including the UK.
Commissioned by the public broadcasting company MAX, the Dutch version will be an eight episode series airing on Channel 1 and produced by Blue Circle. Casting has now commenced and the show will premiere in primetime in June under the name Heel Holland Bakt (The Whole of Holland is Baking). MAX has also acquired BBC Two’s The Great British Bake Off.
Finnish commercial broadcaster MTV3 has commissioned a 10 episode series to be produced by Nordisk Film TV Finland. Casting has commenced and the local name and date of premiere is yet to be announced. MTV3 has also acquired the UK series.
Elin Thomas, VP Format Licensing EMEA, BBC Worldwide said: “We’ve seen broadcasters around the world put their own special twist on the format to great success, for example with the speciality cakes that are associated with different countries. Baking is a tradition everyone can relate to so I have no doubt this brilliant format will only continue to win more fans around the world”
Jan Slagter, CEO, MAX said: “I’m very proud that MAX will broadcast this series in The Netherlands. We have a rich baking tradition; from Fries Suikerbrood (Fries sugar bread) to Brabandse worstenbroodjes (Brabandse sausage rolls). We want to inspire our viewers, so that the whole country will start baking”
Pete Paavolainen, Head of Formats, MTV3 said: "The Great Bake Off is probably the hottest lifestyle format in the world right now and we´ve been following closely when it has triumphed in other Nordic countries. Now it´s our time to also make it a great hit here in Finland."
The Great Bake Off format has already been whipping up considerable ratings in Europe. The Swedish version, Hela Sverige Bakar (All Sweden bakes), on TV4’s Sjuan launched with 27.3% market share of adults 12-59 and averaged at 21.1% across the series making it the highest rating show on the channel ever, while the Danish version, Den Store Bagedyst (The Great Baking Joust) is the most successful of all the new formats that have premiered this season on any Danish channel. The French have also been flocking to Le Meilleur Patissier (The Best Pastry Chef) on commercial broadcaster M6, where the final attracted 3.5 million viewers and came first on the commercial target.
Meanwhile in the UK, the third series final of The Great British Bake Off peaked with 7.2m viewers to become the highest rated BBC Two originated show outside of Top Gear in the past six years.
The Great British Bake Off was also winner of Best Reality & Factual Entertainment at the prestigious Rose D'or TV awards 2012 and winner of the category Features at the BAFTAs 2012.
For more information, please contact:
Julia Holmes
Communications Officer for Content & Production, Sales & Distribution
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NOTES TO EDITORS
BBC Worldwide Content & Production provides investment and expertise to the UK creative industries on behalf of BBC Worldwide in return for rights. It works to maximise the commercial potential of both the BBC’s in-house productions and independently produced shows. The business also develops its own formats, and oversees a global network of production bases and talent brand management. In 2011/12, Content & Production generated headline profit of £10.5 million on headline sales of £135.5 million.
About BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to exploit the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Global Brands. In 2011/12, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £155 million on headline sales of £1085 million and returned £216 million to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
We have a rich baking tradition; from Fries Suikerbrood (Fries sugar bread) to Brabandse worstenbroodjes (Brabandse sausage rolls). We want to inspire our viewers, so that the whole country will start baking”
