Padma Lakshmi is packing up her knives and leaving “Major Chef” soon after 17 several years.
The longtime host, 52, declared June 2 in a statement on social media that she will exit the Bravo cooking competitors following Period 20 in element to concentration on her Hulu sequence, “Taste the Nation.”
“Just after a lot soul hunting, I have built the tricky determination to leave Prime Chef,” wrote Lakshmi, who is also an government producer for the show. “Having accomplished a glorious 20th season as host and govt producer, I am particularly happy to have been element of setting up such a successful demonstrate and of the effects it has had in the worlds of television and meals.
“After 17 many years, many of the solid and crew are like loved ones to me and I will miss out on doing the job along with them dearly. I feel it’s time to shift on and need to make space for ‘Flavor the Nation,’ my textbooks and other creative pursuits,” she continued.
Lakshmi concluded by telling lovers she was “deeply thankful” for so “a lot of many years of enjoy and guidance.”
The former model joined “Top rated Chef” in its second season in 2006, changing unique host Katie Lee.
The Indian-American Television personality and author has been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards for “Major Chef,” like three for Fantastic Host For A Reality Or Competitors Program.
“Padma Lakshmi leaves behind an incredible legacy on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef.’ Her influence on the Emmy, James Beard and Critics’ Selection Award-profitable series is plain. We are grateful to Padma for becoming a consummate host, judge and executive producer, and for bringing her ingenuity and fantastic palate to every episode exactly where she ate just about every bite of foodstuff on the sequence for more than 17 a long time and 19 seasons. She will constantly be section of the ‘Top Chef’ and the NBCUniversal loved ones and has a seat at the judges’ desk at any time,” a spokesperson for NBCUniversal, Bravo’s and Present-day mum or dad firm, instructed Today.com in a assertion.
Nevertheless Lakshmi’s departure comes as a shock, she sounded unsure about her long term on “Top Chef” in an oral historical past of the show printed last month in The Hollywood Reporter.
“I hope the demonstrate does nicely. Television is usually an unpredictable realm. No demonstrate lasts permanently. I imagine we have had a truly, seriously great run. I hope the present carries on for a really extensive time,” she informed the publication.
During a take a look at to “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last month, Lakshmi surprised enthusiasts when she opened up about just how quite a few calories she eats behind the scenes on “Best Chef.”
“First half of the period when we have a whole lot of contestants, eight or 9 thousand energy a working day … conveniently,” Lakshmi claimed, just before jokingly challenging Kimmel’s sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez to an ingesting contest.
“Hot dogs with no ketchup,” she quipped.
Lakshmi also designed headlines final thirty day period for posing in a bikini in the 2023 Athletics Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
“It was so interesting to do it,” Lakshmi explained during a May well 15 go to to Currently. “I suggest, I would have killed for it in my 20s when I was a model, but that it is going on now is all the significantly sweeter, and I’m happy they’re staying extra varied.”
In a movie Athletics Illustrated filmed to boost the difficulty, Lakshmi mentioned, at 52, she was enthusiastic to symbolize more mature ladies.
“I appreciate where by I am in my daily life and know my overall body is not ideal by any implies, but I really feel stunning. I experience like I have a really lucky, fruitful, successful existence,” she reported.
“My thighs may possibly have been leaner, and my boobs have been probably a little bit increased in before components of my lifestyle, but I have in no way felt greater about myself. I hope they see a full female in all my aspects and nuances and some contradictions. I wouldn’t go back to my 20s if you paid me all the dollars in the planet.”
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