Finland, Holland rise to 'The Great Bake Off '

MUMBAI: 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.

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 US 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.

BBC Worldwide VP format licensing Europe, Middle East and Africa Elin Thomas 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."

Max CEO Jan Slagter 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"

MTV3 head of formats Pete Paavolainen 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."