Sandi’s Bake Off break off – and Nadiya is tipped to replace her
The Great British Bake Off is looking for a new host after Sandi Toksvig announced yesterday that she is quitting the Channel 4 show.
Miss Toksvig, 61, who has co-presented the programme with Noel Fielding, 46, since it moved from the BBC in 2017, said she wants to focus on other projects.
Last night Bake Off winner Nadiya hussain was among those being tipped as possible replacements to work alongside Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul hollywood. Miss Toksvig, who also hosts quiz shows QI and Fifteen To One, will still be seen on this spring’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.
And she will continue to work with Channel 4, hosting The Write Offs, which will look at the issue of adult literacy.
‘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,’ she said.
‘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.’ Fielding paid tribute to Miss Toksvig on Instagram. Alongside a Tom and Jerry cartoon, he wrote: ‘Good double acts are a rare and magical beast!’
Miss Leith 79, tweeted: ‘I have absolutely loved working with Sandi.’ hollywood, 53, wrote on Instagram: ‘I will miss Sandi, she has done an amazing job in the tent.’
Miss hussain, 35, who won the Bake Off in 2015 and has since had TV series of her own, was installed as 2/1 favourite to replace Miss Toksvig by bookmakers Coral. Second favourite is Scottish comedian Susan Calman, 45.
Others rumoured to be in contention for the role include comic Jo Brand – who hosts Bake Off’s spin-off show extra Slice – presenter Rylan Clark-Neal and former contestant Liam Charles.