Yahoo News Matt Lucas Announced As Sandi Toksvig's Great British Bake Off Replacement
Channel 4 has announced that Matt Lucas will be taking over from Sandi Toksvig on The Great British Bake Off, when it returns later this year.
GBBO has said that, "Much like creating a successful bake, a successful presenting partnership is all about chemistry and Matt and Noel have it by the oven-load."
These guys are going to be so fun together!
Matt Lucas said: "I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers. And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation. See you in the tent!’
Welcoming the Little Britain star to the team, Noel said, “I love Matt. I love his warmth and his comedy and his big joyful smile. I think if we play our cards right we could become the next Chas and Morph."
Paul added, “I’m a genuine fan of Matt’s, it is such great news he will be joining us in the tent, he’s a fantastic addition to the team."
But Prue - rightly so - is a little concerned that no work will ever get done now.
She said: "The combination of Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding! Will we stop laughing and get any filming done?”
Sandi broke the news back in January that she'd be leaving the Channel 4 show after three years of presenting it with Noel. In a statement on her Twitter, Sandi revealed that she was leaving GBBO so she could concentrate on other projects.
https://t.co/UrrKin8a6u pic.twitter.com/LsFDqzoDjs
— Sandi Toksvig (@sanditoksvig) January 16, 2020
"When stepping down for 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 beyond 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 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."
At the time, there were plenty of rumours going around as to who would step into Sandi's (very small) shoes.
A lot of people on Twitter thought Richard Ayoade would be a great fit seeing as Noel and him have worked together on The IT Crowd and The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year in the past.
Stating the obvious here, but surely it has to be Richard Ayoade pic.twitter.com/3PKbf3FEFT
— Harriet Dunlea (@HarrietDunlea) January 16, 2020
And Nadiya Hussain was also high on the list of replacements. But, we hope you'll agree, that Matt is a great choice for Bake Off.
Richard McKerrow, CEO and Executive Producer, Love Productions added: "It's extremely exciting to have Matt joining the Bake Off family, he's a phenomenal talent with a huge heart and we can't wait to enjoy the mischief and mayhem he and Noel will inevitably create in the tent. Our new batch of bakers will be in very safe hands."
Channel 4’s Director of Programmes, Ian Katz, welcomed Matt saying “We’re thrilled that one much loved national institution is joining another. Matt has everything it takes to be a great Bake Off presenter: he’s warm, hilarious and loves cake.”
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