In a surprising turn of events, Valerie Bertinelli's departure from the popular show "Kids Baking Championship" is not a result of Food Network firing the actress, but rather the aftermath of the network's decision not to renew her larger exclusive deal, according to sources cited by Variety.

Bertinelli, known for her role in "One Day at a Time," signed a multi-series deal with Food Network in 2018, which expired in 2021. The agreement was then extended for an additional year, ending in 2022. It was during this time that the currently airing Season 12 of "Kids Baking Championship" was taped back to back with Season 11.

However, when the exclusive deal concluded, Food Network opted not to renew it. "Her deal expired, they opted not to renew it. They could have come to me with an offer just for 'Kids.' They never did. Simple as that," said Bertinelli's manager Marc Schwartz.

Insiders revealed that the decision to not renew Bertinelli's deal in 2022 was made by development executives who are no longer with the network. Courtney White, the former president of Food Network, left in March 2022 ahead of the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger. She was soon replaced by Jane Latman, who departed in December 2022. Betsy Ayala has been in the chief position since then.

Despite the expiration of her deal over a year ago, Bertinelli did not receive an offer from Food Network to continue as co-host on "Kids." The network believed that if they didn't renew her exclusive multi-series deal, Bertinelli would not accept an offer for "Kids," according to a source close to the situation. The decision was made amidst budget cuts and mass layoffs across Warner Bros. Discovery following the merger.

Food Network and Bertinelli's representatives declined to comment on the matter. Bertinelli herself addressed the situation in an Instagram video, stating that she had not been asked back for a 13th season of "Kids Baking Championship." She believed the decision was due to "budget cuts" and mentioned that the episodes currently airing were filmed during a difficult time in her life.

The network has confirmed that Kardea Brown, host of "Delicious Miss Brown," will return as a judge for the 2024 holiday edition of "Kids Baking Championship." However, no decisions have been made regarding future seasons of the main series, which has not yet been renewed for a 13th season. Notably, no episodes of the show have been filmed without Bertinelli.

Despite her disappointment, Bertinelli expressed no ill will towards Food Network. In fact, she spoke highly of her experience working on the show, which she credits with helping her through a challenging period in her life. Fans, including Khloe Kardashian and Mark Hamill, have voiced their support for Bertinelli continuing as co-host of "Kids Baking Championship" on social media platforms.

As for Bertinelli's next steps, she is set to embark on her cookbook tour for "Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share." Additionally, she is currently evaluating offers from other platforms for future projects and deals. The actress is scheduled to appear at the upcoming Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami.

While Bertinelli's departure from "Kids Baking Championship" marks the end of an era, fans eagerly await news of the show's future and whether a new co-host will join Duff Goldman in leading aspiring young bakers to sweet success.