There’s a lot of drama happening in reality TV right now. And no, we’re not just talking about Ollie leaving Love Island. Sandi Toksvig - the presenter of Great British Bake Off - has decided to step down from the programme after three years. The broadcaster, who hosts the baking show alongside Noel Fielding, said today that she wants to leave the Bake Off tent to focus on other work projects.
Sandi - who has fronted the programme since its move to Channel 4 from BBC One - said, ‘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.'
The star continued, ‘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.'
Ian Katz, Channel 4's director of programmes, added, 'Sandi is a huge part of why Bake Off's move to Channel 4 has been such a success and we are immensely grateful for her 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.'