Padma Lakshmi, the longtime host of Bravo’s culinary competition series “Top Chef,” has announced that she will be leaving the show after 17 seasons.
Lakshmi, 52, announced June 2 in a statement on social media that she will exit the Bravo cooking competition after Season 20 in part to focus on her Hulu series, “Taste the Nation.”
“After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef,” wrote Lakshmi, who is also an executive producer for the show. “Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been 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,” she continued.
Lakshmi joined “Top Chef” in 2006, when it premiered on Bravo. She has hosted the show ever since, becoming one of the most recognizable faces on television. Under her leadership, “Top Chef” has become one of the most popular and acclaimed cooking shows in the world.
In her post, Lakshmi thanked the show’s producers, crew, and contestants for their support over the years. She also expressed her gratitude to the show’s fans, writing, “I will always cherish the memories we’ve made together.”
“Padma Lakshmi leaves behind an incredible legacy on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef.’ Her impact on the Emmy, James Beard and Critics’ Choice Award-winning series is undeniable. We are grateful to Padma for being a consummate host, judge and executive producer, and for bringing her ingenuity and exceptional palate to each episode where she ate every bite of food on the series for over 17 years and 19 seasons. She will always be part of the ‘Top Chef’ and the NBCUniversal family and has a seat at the judges’ table anytime,” a spokesperson for NBCUniversal, Bravo’s and TODAY’s parent company, said in a statement.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) June 2, 2023
