Great British Bake Off: Matt Lucas to replace Sandi Toksvig as host of Channel 4 show

Noel Fielding will return for the show’s next series

Matt Lucas will replace Sandi Toskvig as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, it has been confirmed.

The Little Britain star will host the forthcoming 11th series of the long-running hit show with Noel Fielding.

“I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television,” Lucas said in a statement. “I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue {Leith} and Paul {Hollywood} and meet the brilliant bakers.

“And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation.”

Lucas added that it was his chemistry with Fielding that convinced Channel 4 to give him the job, explaining that they have it “by the oven load”.

Toksvig, who has hosted the series since its move to Channel 4 in 2017, announced in January that she was stepping down from the show to pursue other projects.

“As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show,” she said in a statement. “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.”

It was reported last week (2 March) that Fielding was offered a £150,000 pay rise to convince him to stay on the show without Toksvig.

Fielding previously expressed sadness over Toksvig’s departure, and admitted he now felt like “Tom without Jerry”.

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The Great Celebrity Bake Off, which returned last night (10 March), marks Toksvig’s final run on the series.

Filming for the 11th series of Bake Off begins in the spring.