Noel Fielding sparks Channel 4 Bake Off exit fears after Apple TV show exit as speculation over absence heightens
Noel Fielding’s appearance on the upcoming series of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off is reportedly uncertain amid his supposed ongoing and mysterious health battle.
The 51-year-old abandoned filming of his popular Apple TV series over the Christmas period.
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, which Fielding co-wrote and starred in, was due to resume filming of its second series in January.
However, the production was shelved three quarters of the way to completion in a shock announcement to rest of the cast and crew.
Fielding missed both the initially scheduled and rescheduled filming dates with the entire production left in the lurch, per the Daily Mail.
Filming was then halted completely, with “illness of a key cast member” being given as the reason.
“This is a private and confidential matter regarding our client’s health,” Fielding’s representatives told the Mail.
“We are saddened by the decision to cease production, but we cannot make any further comment on this matter,” they added.
Now, Fielding’s presence on the new series of Bake Off has been cast into doubt as the 51-year-old reportedly recuperates in France.
Fielding has hosted the programme since it first moved from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, sharing the screen with various co-stars including Sandi Toksvig, Matt Lucas and most recently Alison Hammond.
An insider at Love Productions, the company behind Bake Off, has claimed contingencies are being put in place to deal with Fielding’s potential absence.
“Everyone at Love Productions was, of course, worried to learn about Noel’s ill health, and will do everything they can to support him,” they claimed.
The insider continued: “Nothing is set in stone, but they are preparing for every possible outcome and have plans in place if Noel is unable to continue as host on series 16.”
No official announcement has yet been made on Fielding’s future with the Channel 4 programme.
GB News has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
The presenter’s presence may be unlikely as a source confirmed to The Times that “Noel has said that he can’t film any more”.
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The added that the decision to abandon his previous Apple TV commitments were not “taken lightly” and “wouldn’t have got to this extreme result if every possible solution hadn’t been exhausted”.
“People have been very concerned about Noel’s wellbeing and given him time to recover but there are also significant repercussions. Some people are furious,” they concluded.
Adding to the 51-year-old’s woes, The Times reported that more than 100 cast and crew members of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin are seeking to sue the production for the dramatic cancellation.
They report that, as Fielding is both a co-writer and executive producer on the doomed show, he may also face personal litigation.