Noel Fielding feels like "Tom without Jerry" after his ‘The Great British Bake Off’ co-host Sandi Toksvig quit the show.
The 61-year-old TV presenter announced she is departing the programme after three years and 51 showstoppers to work on other projects, including Channel 4 adult literacy series ‘The Write Offs’, on Thursday morning (16.01.20).
She said in a statement: "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."
And now, her colleague has admitted he is gutted to lose his sidekick and compared her exit to the animated children’s characters and Rolling Stones band members Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards being separated.
He tweeted: "I feel like Tom without Jerry ! Mick without a Keef 🙁 gonna miss yooooooooooooooooo and the wonderful times we got to play together in the tent ! Double acts are rare and magical beast and working with you was a pleasure x x x all my love Mr Noel x (sic)"
Prue Leith – who judges the show alongside Paul Hollywood – said she has made a "lifelong" friend in Sandi.
She wrote on her own profile: "I have absolutely loved working with Sandi, she’s been a brilliant host and enormous fun and I am in awe of how hard she works juggling so many different projects.
"We shall be lifelong friends way beyond the tent."
Sandi admitted it has been one of the "great pleasures of [her] life" spending time with her co-host Noel and the judges.
She added: "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."
Richard McKerrow, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Producer for Love Productions, added: "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."
Channel 4 are now searching for a replacement.
They said: "Candidates must have experience of mopping up spills and the occasional tear, making tea and keeping the amateur bakers to time."
Noel Fielding feels like ‘Tom without Jerry’ after Sandi Toksvig quit GBBO
