Matt Lucas ends run as Great British Bake Off host

Matt Lucas has said "farewell" to the Great British Bake Off tent, arsenic the comedian confirmed helium was stepping down arsenic a presenter of the show.

The 48-year-old said his three-series stint had been a "delicious experience" but the clip needed to oversee bakes alongside different projects was excessively much.

"I americium cheerfully passing the baguette connected to idiosyncratic else," the erstwhile Little Britain prima wrote connected Twitter.

Channel 4 has not announced a replacement host.

In his statement, Lucas said the determination came aft trying to equilibrium the requirements of Bake Off and different projects specified arsenic Sky Max drama Fantasy Football League.

He said: "I would similar to springiness my warmest acknowledgment and gratitude to everyone astatine Love Productions and Channel 4 and to Noelipops [co-presenter Noel Fielding], Paul [Hollywood], Dame Prue [Leith], the unit and, of course, the fantastic bakers for welcoming maine into the tent.

"I privation whoever takes implicit each the precise champion and I can't hold to tune into the adjacent bid without already knowing who won!"

Love Productions, which makes the programme, said: "We've loved having Matt Lucas brighten up our structure for the past 3 years, particularly erstwhile laughter and smiles were truthful overmuch successful need.

"We admit everything he's done for Bake Off, from moving successful Covid bubbles to supporting the bakers. It's been a pleasance - acknowledgment Matt."

Bake Off archetypal aired successful 2010 and transferred from the BBC to Channel 4 successful 2017. Its 13th bid ended past month, and overnight figures showed its finale attracted astir 5.2 cardinal viewers.