After three years and 51 showstoppers Sandi has announced plans to switch off her kitchen timer and leave the Bake Off tent.

Sandi is leaving the show to focus on other work projects, which include hosting the forthcoming Channel 4 series The Write Offs, which looks at the issue of adult literacy.

She said about her decision: “When stepping down from a job it is quite common for people to say they are doing so in order to spend more time with their family. Unusually I am departing from the Great British Bake Off so I can spend more time with my other work. As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show. 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. Bake Off is a wonderful programme which has already proved it can happily withstand a change of hosting personnel. The reason for that, of course, is that the true stars of the show are the bakers themselves. I wish everyone well.”

Chief Creative Officer and Executive Producer for Love Productions Richard McKerrow said: “We’ll always be incredibly grateful to Sandi for becoming one of the hosts of Bake Off when we moved to Channel 4, along with Noel, Paul and Prue. She has contributed hugely to Bake Off over the last three years, with her sharp witty sense of humour and her passionate commitment to the dozens of bakers during her time in the tent. We wish her all the very best on the exciting projects she is currently working on and beyond.”

Ian Katz, Director of Programmes at Channel 4 said: ”Sandi is a huge part of why Bake Off’s move to Channel 4 has been such a success and we are immensely grateful for her contribution to the show. We will miss her warmth and wit, not to mention her endless willingness to be the butt of jokes about being the least tall person in the Bake Off tent. Fortunately, her unique voice will continue to have an important presence on the Channel with new shows in development - none of which involve cake.”

The hunt is currently on for a new face to join Noel, Paul and Prue in the tent. Candidates must have experience of mopping up spills and the occasional tear, making tea and keeping the amateur bakers to time. More information will be announced in due course.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Sandi, Noel, Paul and Prue will be in the tent for The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer starting this spring.

The last series of the Great British was up +1% for volume, year on year.

For more information contact:

Kate Conway, kconway@channel4.co.uk, 020 7306 3751

Amanda Console, Amanda@ConsolePR.co.uk