The Great British Baking Show will look a little different next year. Co-host Matt Lucas announced today that he’s quitting The Great British Baking Show after three seasons with the beloved show. According to Lucas, he decided to step down from his hosting duties after it “became clear” he couldn’t juggle baking with his duties of presenting another British show, Fantasy Football League. Lucas’ departure from the program comes less than a month after the show’s most critically acclaimed and controversial season ended in mid-November.
When Matt Lucas came along The Great British Baking Show 2020 was already a time of upheaval for the show. Noel Fielding’s original co-host Sandi Toksvig had left the series and the show had to be isolated in a bubble at Down Hall to safely film the series during the pandemic. Lucas was an odd game for Fielding. If Toksvig and Fielding nailed a “clever kid/class clown” routine, then Lucas and Fielding were the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Together they brought a lot of chaos to the tent, although Fielding has matured significantly in the role of presenter over the years. Last season, Lucas addressed the fact that fans and critics (like yours, really) had complained that he and Fielding were “stressing the bakers” with their messy time calls. He did this by making his time calls even louder and more obnoxious in the episode.
However, it appears that Lucas’ exit is of his own volition and his split with The Great British Baking Show is absolutely friendly. It’s also due to scheduling conflicts and nothing more serious than a health issue. Lucas wrote on his Twitter:
“xxx farewell cheeks! It was a delicious experience and I can’t think of a more fun way to spend my summers, but I’ve realized that I can’t present Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside all my other projects. So, after three series and 51 episodes, I’m happily passing on the baguette. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone at Love Productions and Channel 4 as well as Noelipops, Paul, Dame Prue, the crew and of course the wonderful bakers for welcoming me to the tent. I wish whoever takes over all the best and I can’t wait to tune into the next series without already knowing who won! xxx Matt”
Both Great British Baking Show Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith gave a sentimental farewell to Lucas. He, in turn, quoted her with jokes about her Hollywood twists Lucas nipples and Dancing with Leith in the makeup trailer.
It’s unclear who Love Productions will take on for Lucas next season, or if there will be other cast changes. Last season was beset by setbacks thanks to the horrors of Mexican Week and an overall disappointing finale. Will Lucas’ exit offer The Great British Baking Show an opportunity to regroup for next season? Or will the show continue to plummet into the abyss of insignificance?
All I know is that Matt Lucas is done with the haunting The Great British Baking Show tent with its annoying time calls. Now I can rest easy. At least until Love Productions hires someone who may be even worse for the gig.