Alison Hammond 'unveiled as new host of Great British Bake Off' - replacing comedian Matt Lucas
Alison Hammond has confirmed today that she's the new host of The Great British Bake Off – replacing departing comic Matt Lucas.
The This Morning presenter, 48, will join comedian Noel Fielding when the Channel 4 show starts filming this summer.
'Alison is a great choice. She will bring warmth and humour to the tent in spades. We're laughing just thinking about it,' a source told The Mirror.
Alison will make history as the first non-white host or judge in the programme's 14-year history.
![Confirmed: Alison Hammond will be the new host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing departing comic Matt Lucas](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/17/09/68791539-11869547-Career_Alison_Hammond_has_reportedly_been_lined_up_as_the_new_ho-m-1_1679044661639.jpg)
Confirmed: Alison Hammond will be the new host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing departing comic Matt Lucas
![Exit: Matt co-hosted the Channel 4 show alongside comedian Noel Fielding since 2020, but he decided his time on the programme had come to an end](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/16/19/68791525-11869547-image-m-12_1678995577722.jpg)
Exit: Matt co-hosted the Channel 4 show alongside comedian Noel Fielding since 2020, but he decided his time on the programme had come to an end
Matt co-hosted the Channel 4 show alongside Noel Fielding since 2020, but he decided his time on the programme had come to an end.
He described his time on the show alongside Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Paul Hollywood as 'a pandemic job' as he landed the role at the start of lockdown.
Matt said: 'I had a great time and the bakers were lovely. Now it's time for someone else to do it.'
In a statement, Matt cited his heavy workload as the reason for his exit, saying he wouldn't have the time to host it alongside his work on Fantasy Football League.
He wrote: 'Farewell Bake Off! It's been a delicious experience and I can't imagine a more fun way of spending my summers.
'But it's become clear to me that I can't present both Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside all my other projects.
'So, after three series and 51 episodes, I am cheerfully passing the baguette on to someone else.
'I would like to give my warmest thanks and gratitude to everyone at Love Productions and Channel 4 and to Noelipops, Paul, Dame Prue, the crew and, of course, the wonderful bakers for welcoming me into the tent.
'I wish whoever takes over the very best and I can't wait to tune into the next series without already knowing who won!'
Matt joined the show in series 11, replacing fellow comedian Sandi Toksvig who left the programme after three seasons. He was inundated with well wishes from Bake Off fans who said they'd miss him on the show.
The Great British Bake Off is reportedly set to undergo a 'back to basics' revamp after the last series failed to impress viewers.
Fans were said to have complained about the complicated nature of some of the tasks - such as the Halloween lantern that had to be a pinata - and the 'Mission Impossible' time constraints.
![Former team: Matt pictured with Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/16/19/68791531-11869547-image-a-26_1678995885030.jpg)
Former team: Matt pictured with Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith
![A source told The Mirror: 'Alison is a great choice. She will bring warmth and humour to the tent in spades. We're laughing just thinking about it.' Alison is pictured presenting This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/16/19/68792323-11869547-image-a-32_1678996746554.jpg)
A source told The Mirror: 'Alison is a great choice. She will bring warmth and humour to the tent in spades. We're laughing just thinking about it.' Alison is pictured presenting This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary
A source told The Mirror that bosses have decided to pare things back for the next series and contestants will have more classic baking tasks.
They said: 'There is a realisation last year's show didn't really work. We're going to strip it back to basics, with a few twists.'
It comes as The Great British Bake Off has announced the star-studded line-up for its 2023 celebrity special in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.
And leading the way are former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, Friends legend David Schwimmer and reality star Gemma Collins - and they will all be hoping to avoid that dreaded soggy bottom with their bakes.
A total of 20 famous faces will be heading into the famous tent, with other names battling for star baker including Loose Women's Judi Love and Coleen Nolan , comedian Paddy McGuinness and Olympian Tom Daley.
Also jostling for the coveted Hollywood handshake is Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, presenter AJ Odudu, The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades, radio host Adele Roberts and Strictly's Ellie Taylor.
Also taking part in the Channel 4 show are comedians Rose Matafeo, Mike Wozniak and Lucy Beaumont, radio presenter Tim Key and filmmaker David Morrissey.
Completing the star-studded line-up is Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas, Shaun of the Dead actress Jessica Hynes and Murder in Successville actor Tom Davis.
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be back once more as judges, alongside hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas for one final time.
It comes as Matt and David Walliams recently announced they were writing together again, sparking speculation they were working on a Little Britain reboot.
But Matt insisted on The One Show on Friday night that the new project is something completely different after presenters Alex Jones and Ronan Keating quizzed him about it.
![Ready, set, bake! The Great British Bake Off has announced the star-studded line-up for their 2023 celebrity special in aid of Stand Up To Cancer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/07/19/67427929-11723841-Ready_set_bake_The_Great_British_Bake_Off_has_announced_the_star-a-4_1675796840745.jpg)
Ready, set, bake! The Great British Bake Off has announced the star-studded line-up for their 2023 celebrity special in aid of Stand Up To Cancer
Little Britain ran from 2003-2006 and was a sketch comedy show featuring the celebrities as different characters including Andy and Lou.
Matt, who appeared on the show alongside Fantasy Football League co-host Elis James and singer Rita Ora, said of the rumours: ‘It’s not true! Me and David Walliams are working together on a new thing, but it’s not Little Britain.
'It's a brand new thing. If anything it’s more of a spiritual successor to Come Fly With Me, it's going to be all new characters.
'But we have literally just begun the process, we are still brainstorming. We know what the concept is but we are now creating the characters.'
MailOnline has contacted Alison's representatives for comment.
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