Padma Lakshmi announced on Friday that she is leaving her host job. Top Chef After the Bravo reality competition show wraps up its 20th season next week.
“After many soul searching, I made the difficult decision to leave. Top ChefLakshmi wrote on social media. “As someone who has wrapped up an amazing 20th season as presenter and executive producer, I am extremely proud to be a part of the making of such a successful series and the impact it has had on the television and food worlds.”
He said that after spending 17 years on the show, he felt it was “time to move on” and “make room” for other projects like the Hulu travel show. Enjoy the Nation.
Lakshmi joined Top Chef In 2006, she replaced Katie Lee, the host of Season 1, as the host for the second season of the series. As the show’s producers recently explained in an oral history Hollywood ReporterLakshmi was always their first choice to host, but when they were ready to begin filming for the first season, Lakshmi had arranged for an acting job in a British mini-series.
“I watched the first season so I got an idea,” Lakshmi explained. “I was a little worried that people were thinking that Bravo added another model to the show because of Heidi. [Klum]—I wrote a cookbook and hosted another cooking show—but I was glad I said ‘Please’ before ‘Gather your knives and go’.”
‘Best Chef’The other two main judges, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, are expected to continue the series in the next 21 season.