Matt Lucas to join The Great British Bake Off

11 March 2020

Actor, writer and comedian Matt Lucas will be joining Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in the Bake Off tent.

Much like creating a successful bake, a successful presenting partnership is all about chemistry and Matt and Noel have it by the oven-load.

Matt Lucas said : ‘I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers. And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation. See you in the tent!’

Welcoming Matt to the team, Noel said “I love Matt. I love his warmth and his comedy and his big joyful smile. I think if we play our cards right we could become the next Chas and Morph.

Paul said “I’m a genuine fan of Matt’s, it is such great news he will be joining us in the tent, he’s a fantastic addition to the team.”

Prue commented “The combination of Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding! Will we stop laughing and get any filming done?”

Richard McKerrow, CEO and Executive Producer, Love Productions added: It's extremely exciting to have Matt joining the Bake Off family, he's a phenomenal talent with a huge heart and we can't wait to enjoy the mischief and mayhem he and Noel will inevitably create in the tent. Our new batch of bakers will be in very safe hands.

Channel 4’s Director of Programmes, Ian Katz, welcomed Matt saying “We’re thrilled that one much loved national institution is joining another. Matt has everything it takes to be a great Bake Off presenter: he’s warm, hilarious and loves cake.”

Filming for the eleventh series of The Great British Bake Off begins this spring.

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors

Matt Lucas biography

Matt Lucas is an actor, writer and comedian, first coming to prominence in SHOOTING STARS with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Together with David Walliams, he reaped massive success with the smash hit series LITTLE BRITAIN. The three BBC series and two Christmas specials won nearly every award for which they were nominated, including 3 BAFTAs. LITTLE BRITAIN LIVE was one of the world's largest comedy tours ever, and ran for over 2 years in the UK and Australia. This was followed by LITTLE BRITAIN USA for HBO in the U.S. and BBC1 in the UK, COME FLY WITH ME for BBC1, which was the most viewed TV comedy that year, and a timely reunion special, LITTLE BREXIT, for BBC Radio 4 in October 2019. Matt also completed two series of THE MATT LUCAS AWARDS for BBC1, and POMPIDOU for BBC2.

Matt went on to play Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in both Disney ALICE IN WONDERLAND films, played Gil in the hugely acclaimed BRIDESMAIDS, and appeared in beloved family adaptation PADDINGTON. His latest film roles include the sci-fi comedy HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES, Netflix comedy biopic A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE, Jonas Åkerlund’s 2019 thriller POLAR and as a notable voice in the Golden Globe-winning animated film MISSING LINK. He has also appeared in a number of US comedy series, including COMMUNITY, PORTLANDIA and FRESH OFF THE BOAT.

Back in the UK, Matt recently starred as series regular Nardole in DOCTOR WHO for Series 10, and fulfilled a lifetime ambition to appear in LES MISERABLES, playing Thenardier in the 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena, the All-Star Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre, and for a run in the main West End cast. His memoir LITTLE ME was published by Cannongate in 2017, and he starred as the lead in the revived version of the classic British musical ME AND MY GIRL, at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018. Matt is also a regular on BBC Radio 2, hosting his own Christmas and Easter specials, and his first podcast BITCH, BITCH, BITCH is soon to drop on BBC Sounds and Radio 2.

 

For more information contact:

Amanda Console, Amanda@ConsolePR.co.uk

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