Sandi Toksvig quits The Great British Bake Off after three years
16 January 2020, 11:38 | Updated: 16 January 2020, 12:42
Sandi Toksvig has decided to leave The Great British Bake Off after three series on Channel 4.
The veteran presenter said she was leaving so that she can focus on other work commitments.
"As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show," Sandi tweeted, saying that hosting the show had been one of the "great pleasures" of her life.
Sandi and Noel Fielding took over from Mel & Sue as presenters after the much-loved programme moved to Channel 4.
However, Sandi will still appear on the next series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, which will be shown later this year.
Sandi's statement in full:
"When stepping down from a job it is quite common for people to say they are doing so in order to spend more time with their family. Unusually I am departing from the Great British Bake Off so I can spend more time with my other work.
"As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show. Spending time with Prue, Paul and Noel has been one of the great pleasures of my life. These are friendships which I know will continue beyond the confines of television.
"Bake Off is a wonderful programme which has already proved it can happily withstand a change of hosting personnel. The reason for that, of course, is that the true stars of the show are the bakers themselves. I wish everyone well."
Noel later paid tribute to his co-host on Twitter, saying it was a "pleasure" working with her.
I feel like Tom without Jerry ! Mick without a Keef :( gonna miss yooooooooooooooooo and the wonderful times we got to play together in the tent ! Double acts are rare and magical beast and working with you was a pleasure x x x all my love Mr Noel x pic.twitter.com/nkbuLpvQMs
— noel fielding (@noelfielding11) January 16, 2020
Channel 4 has yet to announce when a new co-host will be hired to replace Sandi.
