After 17 years, Padma Lakshmi announces departure from Top Chef
Lakshmi, the Bravo cooking competition's longtime host, announced the "difficult decision" to depart in a message posted to social media
Aux News Top Chef
After 17 years with the show, Padma Lakshmi has announced she’s leaving Top Chef. The host and executive producer shared the news of her “difficult decision” to depart the Bravo staple in a message shared on social media on June 2. Top Chef’s currently airing 20th season, which premiered on March 9 of this year, will be Lakshmi’s last with the series.
In her statement, Lakshmi states that she made her decision in part to focus more on “other creative pursuits,” including her Hulu series Taste The Nation, which premiered on the streamer in 2020. Lakshmi has been with Top Chef since the series’ second season, when she replaced season one host Katie Lee Joel. Although Lakshmi has received thirteen Primetime Emmy Awards nominations during her tenure at the series—including three nominations for Outstanding Host—she has never taken home a trophy.
Lakshmi’s departure leaves big shoes to fill; whoever takes her slot will join current judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, who have both been with the show since the series premiered in 2006.
Read Lakshmi’s full statement on her exit from Top Chef below:
After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef.
Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been a part of building such a successful show and of the impact it has had in the worlds of television and food.
After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working alongside them dearly. I feel it’s time to move on and need to make space for Taste the Nation, my books and other creative pursuits.
I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support.
Sincerely,
Padma
26 Comments
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Just give me more Gail.
My personal crush aside, its gonna be weird seeing Top Chef without Padma. But I do think Gail would do just fine as the main host. Even if she stuck to her current role, TC has a deep roster of alums that could host as well imo. Kristen Kish would be my first call. She’s been excellent with her other TV ventures outside of Top Chef and has a natural TV presence.
Yes, more Gail! I’m shocked by this. I didn’t really like Padma at first, but she’s grown on me and Top Chef won’t be the same without her.
Those would be my first two picks. Gail as the new host would probably be accepted with very few complaints. Kristen seemed pretty comfortable as a presenter on her other show.But if not those two, I would go with another Top Chef alum – Antonia Lofaso.
Gail would be a win if she’s willing to commit that much time. Kish is in Blais overexposed territory imo now.
Let Nilou Motamed take over, please….
That’s a shame. Show won’t be the same without her.
She really seemed to be enjoying herself alot more these last few seasons (haven’t watched the new one yet). But don’t blame her for wanting to move on.
How is the show these days? I gave up after a few seasons. It seemed like the judges were being pushed to be nastier to the contestants. I imagine they were trying to get into the Gordon Ramsay vibe, but I never liked that. I preferred when they were tough but fair. When Collicho roasted someone and said their dish was an insult to his grandmother, I bailed.
It’s really good, especially this World All-Stars season. I don’t notice any nastiness from the judges.
It has been great for last few seasons IMO. They really do not play up drama that much and most of the chefs they’ve gotten have been likable and get along well. Tom is direct with his feedback, as always, but never unfair to me. And he’s never really cruel about it – sometimes he gets a disappointed parent look on his face if someone really messes up.
it’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday
Someone from the TC Family for sure!Brooke Williamson?Whichever Voltaggio is more comfortable and personable on camera. Michael I think?Tiffany Derry?I wonder if Jamie Tran or Mei Lin are extroverted enough? Fun for sure and obviously talented.NOT Tiffany Faison; she rubs me wrong way on Chopped. But I’ sure her agent’s already been calling and calling based on her tv experience. Whose wouldn’t?
I agree with Brooke! Move Gail to Padma’s spot and have Brooke take over Gail’s!
I don’t think Gail has hosting chops. She’s good as a judge. I just don’t see her as a host.
Definitely not Tiffani Faison; she rubs me the wrong way too.
A good portion of the Top Chef alum is on Food Network already – guessing they have contracts and its probably more lucarative to be on a bunch of different shows as Brooke and Voltaggio are than on one season of Top Chef a year.
I think Padma might be one of the more likeable personalities on television right now (and actually has an opinion), so I’m sad to see her leave Top Chef, but can very well see her become even more of a household name.
I encourage everyone to watch Taste the Nation on Hulu. It’s excellent.
I didn’t like Padme in the early seasons as she was wooden and didn’t offer great critiques on food. But she really grew into the job and has been great for a while now. I really took the consistency of the host / judges of this show for granted it feels like – just felt like a given they’d all be back forever. Not sure who will be able to replace her.
“I think you got the wrong show.”
Frankly, Tom Colicchio’s been looking a little cranky and checked out lately, so I wonder if he’s leaving as well.
Good… she had gone super f’n woke. Literally everything out of her insta is some “message to teach us about some b.s.” She had been pushing her b.s. onto TC for years now, glad to see her go…. it’s like a message within a show, I don’t need it, her political views. She’s a fu~in host, not some political ideolog.
Let a white male host, just to be inclusive, since we when like 15 years with a asian host…. the white gal, s1, she got fired….
That definitely sucks