Sandi Toksvig has opened up about her decision to leave The Great British Bake Off, revealing it was partly due to feeling unhappy and unfulfilled despite it being “the biggest pay cheque of her life.” She mentioned that after three years, she realized she was no longer enjoying the experience, stating, “I was literally standing there watching meringues dry and thinking, ‘Oh my God, my brain is atrophying’”
Her wife, Debbie, encouraged her to prioritize her happiness, leading Toksvig to walk away from the show. She candidly admitted, “It’s not for me. I walked away… but that’s okay”
Additionally, she revealed that she no longer speaks to her former co-presenter, Noel Fielding, implying that their friendship has ended since her departure.
Sandi Toksvig served as a co-presenter on The Great British Bake Off from 2017 to 2020 alongside comedian Noel Fielding. During her time on the show, she contributed to its popularity, but she eventually stepped away, citing a lack of enjoyment and fulfillment despite the significant financial incentive.
Toksvig’s decision to leave was also influenced by her wife’s observations about her happiness.
Sandi Toksvig, who stepped down from The Great British Bake Off in 2020, described her departure as feeling like “the longest three years of her life.” She revealed that her wife, psychotherapist Debbie, encouraged her to leave the show because she “wasn’t happy.” Sandi also shared that she remains close to judge Prue Leith, stating they are “joined at the hip,” but she hasn’t kept in touch as much with Paul Hollywood due to his busy schedule.
When asked about her relationship with former co-host Noel Fielding, Sandi Toksvig bluntly responded, “No.” In an interview with The Times, she explained her reasons for leaving The Great British Bake Off, stating, “It’s not for me.” She mentioned that she walked away from “the biggest paycheque of my life,” adding, “I’d never watched it. I still haven’t watched it. I didn’t understand it.”
Sandi expressed her lack of enjoyment in the baking process, noting that cakes are easily available in stores. She acknowledged the show’s popularity and the attention it received but emphasized that her wife, Debbie, advised her to leave because it “wasn’t making [her] happy.” The latest series of Bake Off, hosted by Noel and Alison Hammond, premiered at the end of September, featuring new contestants entering the iconic tent.
Sandi Toksvig is now focusing on her political activism, having co-founded the Women’s Equality Party in 2015. In addition to her activism, she has been busy writing plays, novels, and children’s books. Sandi has also been the host of BBC2’s QI since 2016, continuing to contribute to her diverse career outside of The Great British Bake Off.
ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus recently tied the knot for the third time, marrying his partner Christina Sas in Copenhagen earlier this month. Sandi Toksvig officiated the ceremony, which was attended by close friends and family. The 79-year-old singer shared the joyous occasion on Instagram, posting several photos from the day, where Christina wore a stunning khaki dress.
In his Instagram post, Björn wrote: “Today on the 21st of September 2024, Björn Ulvaeus married Christina Sas from Herning, Denmark. They met in Nürnberg in 2021 during the release of ABBA’s last album, Voyage, and began dating in the spring of 2022.”
Sandi Toksvig, along with Anne Linnet and Kaya Brüel, performed at Björn Ulvaeus’s wedding, adding a special touch to the evening. For the ceremony, Sandi, 66, who has been friends with Björn since their collaboration on Mamma Mia: The Party! in 2018, wore red clergy robes.
Björn and Christina made their first public appearance together in June 2022, where they shared with reporters, “We have dated for a while, and I felt like I wanted to take her to this event. So this is the first time we go out together.” The couple met while Christina was working for ABBA’s label, Universal, in Germany, which released their 2021 album, Voyage.
This wedding follows Björn’s announcement of the end of his 41-year marriage to music journalist Lena Kallersjö, 75, in the previous year.
In February 2022, Björn Ulvaeus and his second wife, Lena Kallersjö, released a joint statement confirming their split after 41 years of marriage. The couple, who share two daughters, Emma, 42, and Anna, 38, agreed to divide their £100 million assets equally.
