Former contestants and celebrities reacted with dismay after The Great British Bake Off presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc announced they will not return to the programme when it moves to Channel 4.

Richard Burr, who took part in the 2014 series, posted on Twitter: “Without Mel and Sue it just isn’t Bake Off. @Channel4 has just bought a tent.”

Another 2014 contestant, Martha Collison, added: “Well that’s the end of that. Mel and Sue are the true stars of the show – irreplaceable.”

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Jo Wheatley, the Bake Off champion in 2011, said that she is “really hoping this isn’t true” and that “Mel and Sue are as big a part of GBBO as (judges) Mary (Berry) and Paul (Hollywood)”.

John Whaite, the winner of the show in 2012, said: “Mel and Sue jump ship. Very sad news. They’re wonderful girls who made the show what it is. Now, I’m not feeling so hopeful…”

2012 contestant Cathryn Dresser wrote on the social networking site: “So we must utterly treasure the treasures that are Mel and Sue – whilst we have them – and keep the #GBBO faith.”

Without Mel and Sue it just isn't Bake Off. @Channel4 has just bought a tent. #GBBO

— Richard Burr (@RichardPBurr) September 13, 2016

Only one thing to do when I'm this sad: on your marks, get set, bake 😢 We'll miss you @sueperkins (& Mel too) #GBBO pic.twitter.com/sKoE0uXyJ8

— Richard Burr (@RichardPBurr) September 13, 2016

Mel & Sue jump ship. Very sad news. They're wonderful girls who made the show what it is. Now, I'm not feeling so hopeful…

— John Whaite (@JohnWhaiteBakes) September 13, 2016

Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt was saddened by the news, writing on Twitter along with a crying emoji: “Gutted doesn’t come close… Mel and Sue come back.”

TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal wrote that he too was “gutted” and that Mel and Sue “made that show”.

The original news – that the show’s producers Love Productions had signed a three-year agreement with Channel 4 – also caused a wave of reaction from Bake Off’s famous fans.

Lord Sugar ?tweeted: “I feel sorry for the @BBCOne they invested years in making Bake off popular and the greedy disloyal format owner has sold it to Ch4.”

So we must utterly treasure the treasures that are Mel and Sue- whilst we have them- and keep the #GBBO faith

— Cathryn Dresser (@cat_dresser) September 13, 2016

Gutted doesn't come close… Mel and Sue come back 😭 #melandsue #gbbo

— Scarlett Moffatt (@ScarlettMoffatt) September 13, 2016

Gutted about Mel and Sue. They made that show X

— Rylan Clark-Neal (@Rylan) September 13, 2016

Kirstie Allsopp tweeted: “Bake Off shift shows a disgraceful lack of gratitude from the producers to the BBC who commissioned it in the first place, not a smart move.”

She later added: “At least I can reassure Mel, Sue, Mary & Paul that @Channel4 is a fabulous place to work, though still think #GBBO belongs at the Beeb.”

Comedian and BBC radio presenter Danny Baker tweeted: “I don’t think channels should buy up other channels programs like swaggering football clubs..”

The Great British Bake Off will move to Channel 4 next year (BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon)

Richard Osman, co-presenter of BBC gameshow Pointless, tweeted: “It great news for bakers who run out of time on #GBBO, as they’ll now be able to use Channel 4+1.”

Former contestant Beca Lyne-Pirkis tweeted: “I think we all need a cup of tea and LOTS of cake after hearing this news … sad times. #GBBO”

Lord Prescott tweeted: “I predict Bake Off moving from BBC to Channel 4 will be the ultimate showstopper. Wish they’d stayed with the Beeb.”