Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins revealed they quit 'The Great British Bake Off' on the very first day of filming.

Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc

Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc

The presenting duo went on to host the BBC One baking competition for seven series, but they almost didn't go through with filming after producers left contestants in tears.

Speaking to Radio Times, Sue explained: "We resigned, basically. Because it was not a kind show.

"They were pointing cameras in the bakers' faces and making them cry and saying, 'Tell us about your dead gran.'

"So we had very stiff words about how we wanted to proceed. I think we can say that, now we're out of it, can't we?"

Instead, the pair were looking to present a television show that represented them after working in the industry for so long.

She added: "We're quite cheesy and homespun and we just want to have a laugh. Who wants to see people crying? I don't.

"Especially if you work in television and you know the mechanisms that have been used to make them cry."

The twosome were part of the original lineup with Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood from 2010 until the programme moved over to Channel 4 in 2017.

Mel and Sue - along with judge Mary - declined to make the switch and were later replaced with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig as hosts and Prue Leith was assigned as Mary's replacement.

They decided it was time to leave after finding out the show was switching channels through a news bulletin, and felt they were not part of the "team".

Sue added: "It was painful. There's no antagonism there. I just think, 'If you're going to let us find out that way [from TV], then we're not really a team, are we?' "