EXCLUSIVE: This week at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the head of content at Sky, praised the enduring value of UK public service broadcasting in an editorial, as the Comcast-owned entity moves closer to completing its acquisition of ITV. She declared in Broadcast, “Our goal is to continue investing in exceptional British storytelling for future generations.”
However, beneath these polished statements, Sky is under fire for threatening one of the UK’s most successful public broadcasting stories: The Great British Bake Off. In a controversy that clashes with the show’s wholesome image, Sky and Frot-Coutaz are responding to intense criticisms from producers at the heart of Channel 4’s popular cooking series. These producers have long been associated with Love Productions, a company Sky fully acquired in 2020.
It’s quite rare for such disputes to become public in the generally polite sphere of British TV. Producers seldom publicly air their disputes with major networks and their executives, much less take legal action. Yet, driven by strong emotions, former Love managing director Letty Kavanagh has initiated dual lawsuits against Sky for wrongful termination and unpaid severance, as Deadline reported recently. Two others have lodged complaints with Sky expressing similar issues: Kieran Smith, former executive producer of Bake Off, and another person who is still employed by Love.
Watch on Deadline
Paul Hollywood has judged every season of ‘Bake Off’
Deadline has explored Kavanagh’s legal documents and consulted sources familiar with the matter to understand how the relationship soured. After 18 years at Love, Kavanagh alleges she was dismissed for criticizing Sky’s attempt to transfer Bake Off from Channel 4 to their network in 2025 as unethical, poorly handled, and damaging to a crucial relationship. She views her experience as a troubling sign for ITV as it nears its £1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) sale to Sky.
Sky vehemently denies any wrongdoing or mismanagement and has stated that it will defend itself vigorously in court. Sources within Sky attribute the Bake Off dispute to differing visions for the show’s future, which they claim led to a professional breakdown unrelated to the ITV acquisition. An external law firm, Gibson Dunn, investigated and dismissed the complaints from Love. Moreover, Sky highlights that the dispute ended with Bake Off staying on Channel 4, where it continues to thrive.
Project Rise
Love Productions founders Richard McKerrow and Anna Beattie fostered a culture of creative freedom, which sometimes clashed with Sky’s management after the 2020 acquisition. Tensions escalated into outright conflict in early 2025 when Frot-Coutaz initiated Project Rise, aiming to acquire Bake Off from Channel 4.
Channel 4 has been the home of Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show on Netflix) since it bought the rights from the BBC in 2016. Love’s leadership, with Sky’s initial support, had negotiated a new contract with Channel 4 in 2024, which included an agreement to develop new shows for the network.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz
When Sky expressed interest in moving Bake Off, it was met with resistance at Love, where producers feared the show might lose its wider appeal behind Sky’s paywall. These concerns intensified due to Sky’s handling of Project Rise.
In her employment tribunal lawsuit, Kavanagh contends that Frot-Coutaz interfered in the Bake Off contract negotiations with Channel 4 from January to November 2025, “eroding goodwill” at Love’s most crucial partner. Sky sources deny this, asserting that Frot-Coutaz’s involvement was appropriate and that relations with Channel 4 remain strong.
Sources close to Kavanagh claim that Frot-Coutaz showed intent to acquire Bake Off, then left Channel 4 uncertain for months, causing concern among the network’s top executives who started preparing for a future without their flagship series. Channel 4 has declined to comment. Meanwhile, Sky planned to eliminate spin-off series, including the professionals and children’s versions, a move that dismayed Love’s leadership. “Sky was ready to lay off hundreds of people without hesitation,” one source remarked.
Eventually, Frot-Coutaz abruptly halted Project Rise. The reasons remain unclear, but speculation suggests that Sky couldn’t persuade key figures like Paul Hollywood to switch. Insiders also suggest that senior Sky content officials, including unscripted chief Philip Edgar-Jones, doubted whether Bake Off was a suitable match for the network. Sky refutes this portrayal of Edgar-Jones’ stance.
In October 2025, Sky directly negotiated Bake Off’s renewal with Channel 4, leaving Kavanagh informed only after the agreement was finalized. In her lawsuit, she claims that the new deal was “significantly less beneficial” than the one she brokered in 2024, potentially costing millions in lost contract value and related deals, such as the U.S. licensing agreement with Netflix. Channel 4 insiders, however, are reportedly pleased with the outcome.
Kavanagh expressed her frustrations to her superiors at Sky multiple times. Within days, she was terminated and escorted out of the building in November 2025. She has now filed two UK lawsuits — one in an employment tribunal and another in the High Court — outlining at least four grievances.
Kavanagh’s Lawsuits
Kavanagh argues that Sky’s pursuit of Bake Off constituted a conflict of interest because the broadcaster had access to contractual details with Channel 4. Sources close to the producer claim that “ethical walls” between Love and Sky’s content team were breached in 2024, when Frot-Coutaz expanded her Sky Studios empire to include unscripted commissioning. In her employment tribunal filing, Kavanagh alleges that Sky commercial chief Helen Northrop “acknowledged” that “this was problematic.”
Letty Kavanagh
Sky disputes the conflict of interest claim, arguing there is no legal basis for it since it fully owned Love and Bake Off. Sky also denies that Northrop ever agreed with Kavanagh’s concerns. Senior figures at the broadcaster are baffled by Kavanagh’s claims, arguing that taking Bake Off in-house was not unprecedented. For instance, ITV acquired The Voice from the BBC shortly after ITV Studios bought Talpa in 2015.
Kavanagh also alleges that Sky manipulated Love’s annual accounts to present a more favorable financial picture by prematurely recognizing revenue on unfinished projects. Sky denies this, attributing the changes to updated accounting practices mandated by Comcast in 2023. Kavanagh further accuses Sky of gender discrimination regarding the termination of her contract and, in a separate High Court lawsuit, claims she is owed £755,752 ($1 million) in severance. Sky refutes these accusations and insists it owes Kavanagh nothing financially.
Sky asserts that Kavanagh’s concerns about Project Rise and accounting practices were thoroughly investigated following whistleblowing complaints by her and colleagues. Gibson Dunn, an external law firm, was hired to examine the allegations. Kavanagh and Kieran Smith were interviewed, but their complaints were not substantiated. They have since criticized the thoroughness of the investigation, alleging they were not provided with a terms of reference or access to relevant documents.
Sky maintains confidence in the investigation’s findings. Following the inquiry, it appointed new management at Love and later agreed to sell the company to ITV Studios for £200 million as part of its ITV acquisition.
A Sky spokesperson states, “Being the sole owner of Love Productions, Sky has every reason to safeguard and enhance the value of The Great British Bake Off. We have invested in the show and its long-term future for over a decade and continue to do so today.
“As with any long-standing program, when a renewal approaches, it is natural and appropriate to explore future options. The Great British Bake Off continues to delight millions of viewers, and Sky has secured a new deal that keeps it on Channel 4 and accessible for free.
“The allegations underwent a detailed investigation by a leading external counsel and were found to be unsubstantiated. We deny the claims against Sky and will vigorously defend our position in the ongoing legal battles.”
Where Kavanagh sees herself sounding the alarm on a “ruthless” American culture encroaching on ITV, Sky views it as an attempt to coerce a settlement. Meanwhile, Bake Off is set to return to Channel 4 for its 17th season next month, introducing new judge Nigella Lawson to the tent. The fact that this nearly didn’t happen could lead to a prolonged legal showdown.”
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