Matt Lucas has revealed that he now has time to fulfil his bucket list dreams after quitting the Great British Bake Off.
The comedian and scriptwriter, 48, told how he took the job co-hosting the Channel 4 show in 2020 before announcing his departure three years later in 2023.
Viewers of the show were given many a laugh from Lucas as he appeared alongside hosts Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Paul Hollywood but he admits he never saw the role lasting as long as it had.
He told on The Deeney Podcast : "I'm lucky enough to be able to afford to not audition [for a show he didn't have time to do] or to not do anymore Bake Off because I don't do that anymore to take time to write my bucket list project."
He added: "I had a great time and the bakers were lovely. Now it's time for someone else to do it."
Matt said he'd enjoyed his time on the show but wanted to pursue other projects such as his Fantasy Football League show for Sky Max Comedy and this wouldn't be possible alongside Bake Off filming hours.
The Little Britain writer is instead back pursuing his passion and has teamed up with his long-term comic partner David Walliams for a 'dream' project.
In a statement announcing his show exit, he wrote: "Farewell Bake Off! It's been a delicious experience and I can't imagine a more fun way of spending my summers.
|But it's become clear to me that I can't present both Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside all my other projects.
"So, after three series and 51 episodes, I am cheerfully passing the baguette on to someone else.
'I would like to give my warmest thanks and gratitude to everyone at Love Productions and Channel 4 and to Noelipops, Paul, Dame Prue, the crew and, of course, the wonderful bakers for welcoming me into the tent."
He signed off the statement adding he was now going to watch the show and would be happy to 'not already know who won!"
Looking to his future project with his creative chum Walliams he acknowledges the sketches would need to be different with a nod to criticism for sketches deemed to be racist or xenophobic in Little Britain.
He said: “I’m not going to say that we should be making shows the way we made them then, because I don’t think we should.
“Things are different.”
Little Britain began life as a radio show before being produced and aired on BBC from 2003-2006 featuring Lucas and Walliams involving exaggerated parodies of British people from various walks of life.
