Paul Hollywood cried after Bake Off moved to Channel 4

Paul Hollywood on ‘The Great American Baking Show’. (Getty Images)

Paul Hollywood has admitted he cried after The Great British Bake Off moved from the BBC to Channel 4.

The much loved cooking competition started off on the BBC before Channel 4 outbid the broadcaster for the rights to the show in 2017.

Original presenters Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins and Mary Berry all quit the show in protest but Hollywood stayed on and was teamed with Prue Leith instead.

Read more: Paul Hollywood says he was ‘p***ed off’ with his ‘Bake Off’ weight gain

Talking to The Times, Hollywood opened up on the move and how the backlash affected him: “It hurt me. After a while, though. I got tough, I just thought ‘okay, I’ll be your bad guy’.”

Judges Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, with presenters Noel Feilding and Matt Lucas. (Channel 4)

He added: “I was called every name under the sun. It was so horrendous, I actually cried.”

Hollywood also revealed that David Walliams offered him some advice on the criticism, telling him to enjoy ‘the game’ of being clickbait.

Hollywood is also set to join up with Leith on The Great American Baking Show. The former baker has been a regular on the show since it premiered in 2015 but Leith is set to join the cast for the first time later this year.

It was recently announced that Hollywood will also be starring in a food travel programme for Channel 4 later this year. Paul Hollywood Eats Mexico will follow the baker around the North American country as he embarks on a tour of the national cuisine.

Paul Hollywood on ‘The Great British Bakeoff’. (Channel 4)

Over three episodes Hollywood will travel to locations such as Tijuana, Mexico City, and Cancun and sampling some less internationally known Mexican foods.

On the show, Hollywood said: “Mexico is an amazing country, with amazing people and amazing food. The surprises never stopped coming. For example, I never thought I would be judging a Cornish Pasty competition in a Mexican town square, backed by a full mariachi band. Which, for the avoidance of doubt, I did.”

The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 in the UK.

Watch below: Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall gets ‘hot and bothered’ over Paul Hollywood’s eyes