A former semi-finalist of the Great British Bake Off has reacted with sadness that the hit BBC show will be moved to Channel 4.

Chetna Makan, who lives in Broadstairs, came fourth in the 2014 series and has forged a successful career off the back of what she describes as a “typically BBC” show.

“They don’t make the programme but the BBC brought it a very good audience and this audience has also helped make it what it is,” she said.

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“The BBC has nurtured it. It’s very sad it’s moving.”

The quintessentially British programme, produced by Love Productions, will be moved to Channel 4 following year-long negotiations with the BBC which allegedly broke down over a disagreement regarding cost.

It is understood Love Productions demanded an estimated £25million a year for the rights – four times the current deal.

The corporation lost out to Channel 4, which will first air a celebrity version of Bake Off for the charity Stand Up To Cancer in 2017.

Bake Off Judge Paul Hollywood, who lives in Wingham near Canterbury, has so far remained tight-lipped over the change, but he previously made his views known.

In an episode of Top Gear, the 50-year-old said: “It’s not up to us, it’s up to the production company, but as far as Mary, Mel, Sue and myself are concerned we want to stay on the BBC.”

Mrs Makan said the BBC had played an important part in making the show what it was.

“I hope Channel 4 doesn’t change it, but that is something nobody knows,” she added.

“There will have to be some changes as it can’t be exactly the same for a different channel. Whether it will change for the better, I don’t know.

“If people love the programme they will follow it to Channel 4, but if they change it so much, they might not stay.”

The hit show was first aired on BBC Two in 2010 and became a runaway success, eventually being moved to BBC One in 2013.

Now in its seventh series, the show regularly pulls in millions of viewers, with the opening show watched by 10.4 million.