BBC Worldwide is apologising to stunned viewers over the broadcasting gaffe that led to the embarrassing failure of the hyped The Great South African Bake Off to start on BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) as promised.
It's not yet clear exactly what the problem was and what caused it, but BBC Worldwide says the technical play-out team of the British broadcaster's commercial arm tried until the last moment before the start of the first episode at 20:00 on BBC Lifestyle to rectify the glitch.
Viewers who tuned in hoping to see The Great South African Bake Off produced by Rapid Blue with Anne Hirsch and Donovan Goliath as presenters, instead got an old episode of the British version, sprinkled with commercials from Mugg & Bean and Snowflake touting the "too fresh to flop" local version.
BBC Lifestyle didn't do any on-air announcement on Tuesday evening, there was no on-air scroll or apology during the prime time hour and many DStv subscribers who tuned in simply didn't know whether they got the day or time wrong or what happened.
"The final decision not to go to air was made less than half an hour before airtime," says BBC Worldwide, saying "it tried to rectify the glitch until the last moment."
"Unfortunately, due to a technical issue with the materials, we have been unable to show The Great South African Bake Off on BBC Lifestyle. We apologise to viewers who were looking forward to seeing this new programme."
It's not yet clear whether The Great South African Bake Off will now start next Tuesday on BBC Lifestyle or how the new play-out schedule of episodes will take place but viewers will be told soon.
The Great South African Bake Off, filmed near Maropeng and based on the Love Productions format is BBC Worldwide's next big local production after the well-liked and successful Come Dine with Me South Africa ran and was cancelled on BBC Entertainment after 3 seasons.
