Sandi Toksvig quits as 'Great British Bake Off' presenter after three series

Sandi Toksvig has announced she will be leaving Great British Bake Off after serving as a presenter for three series.

The host has explained she’s quitting the programme in order to “spend more time with [her] other work”.

The 61-year-old shared a statement which read: “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.

Read more: Prue Leith says Bake Off is easy money

“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.”

She has fronted the show alongside fellow host Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith ever since the show made the move from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017.

Fielding said he felt like a "Tom without a Jerry" as he reacted to Toksvig's news.

"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."

Love Productions’ Richard McKerrow said: “We’ll always be incredibly grateful to Sandi for becoming one of the hosts of Bake Off when we moved to Channel 4, along with Noel, Paul and Prue.

Read more: Bake Off's tear-filled final: Underdog rises to a worthy and emotional win

“She has contributed hugely to Bake Off over the last three years, with her sharp witty sense of humour and her passionate commitment to the dozens of bakers during her time in the tent. We wish her all the very best on the exciting projects she is currently working on and beyond.”

While Toksvig won't be returning when the next amateur series kicks off later this year, she will be present for The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, which begins airing in the spring.