Paul Hollywood has issued an emotional tribute to his Great British Bake Off co-star Matt Lucas, who has announced his departure from the popular baking programme. Lucas took to Twitter to share the news, stating that after three series and 51 episodes, he is 'cheerfully passing the baguette on to someone else.'
In his statement, Lucas explained that he could not continue presenting both Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside his other projects. He described his time on the show as a 'delicious experience' and said he could not imagine a more fun way of spending his summers.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday evening, Paul Hollywood shared a photo of Lucas and wrote: '@realmattlucas you’re going to be missed in the tent buddy by all, I will always be your number one fan.. x' The official Bake Off Twitter account also paid tribute, thanking Lucas for his work during the pandemic and his support for the bakers.
Matt Lucas joined Bake Off in 2020, replacing Sandi Toksvig, and co-hosted alongside Noel Fielding for three years. His departure comes as the show prepares for its next series on Channel 4.
