Great British Bake Off Presenter Sandi Toksvig Leaves After 3 Years

Sandi Toksvig has announced that she will be leaving Channel 4 show, The Great British Bake Off. 

After co presenting alongside comedian Noel Fielding for 3 years, Sandi states she is leaving in order to focus on other projects.

Sandi commented on her decision via Twitter, saying “As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show. Bake Off is a wonderful programme which has already proved it can happily withstand a change of hosting personnel.” 

Toksvig and Fielding were the original presenters following the show’s transfer over to Channel 4. It was previously broadcast on BBC1, presented by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, commonly known as ‘Mel & Sue.’ 

The Bake Off special for Stand Up to Cancer will still feature Sandi Toksvig, which is due to be aired in Spring this year. 

Channel 4’s director of programmes, Ian Katz, said: “We are immensely grateful for Sandi’s contribution to the show. We will miss her warmth and wit, not to mention her endless willingness to be the butt of jokes about being the least tall person in the Bake Off tent.

“Fortunately, her unique voice will continue to have an important presence on the Channel with new shows in development – none of which involve cake.”

Fellow colleague and judge Prue Leith tweeted,      “I have absolutely loved working with Sandi, she’s been a brilliant host and enormous fun and I am in awe of how hard she works juggling so many different projects. We shall be lifelong friends way beyond the tent.” – Prue joined the show alongside Toksvig and Fielding after the Channel 4 switch. 

Sandi Toksvig’s full statement:

“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.”

It is not yet known who will replace Toksvig.