saintpeter48 - //I read somewhere that Mel and Sue were not spoken too about the move, I assume Mary and Paul are in the same boat! You would've thought that the 4 stars of this most popular programme currently on TV would've been consulted. //
In theory yes, but it was the format that was discussed and sold, not the show as it is on the BBC.
Richard Osman, who knows about this kind of thing, was very interesting on Chris Evans, pointing out that Channel 4 can rake in millions from spin-offs which the BBC can't do, and only need half the viewing figures for it to be seen as a huge success for them.
Formats are often sold in this way - it is not the presenters that come as a package, they often don't, as in this case.
Whether of not, as our media believe, the current personalities are an invaluable part of the success of the format remains to be seen. On the evidence of Top Gear, the omens are not good.