Padma Lakshmi Is Leaving “Top Chef,” So Here’s What’s Happening To The Show

Sadly, it is time for Padma Lakshmi to pack up her own knives and go.

The longtime host of Top Chef announced on Thursday that she’ll be leaving the hit Bravo cooking show after 17 years.

“After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef,” Padma wrote in a statement on Twitter.

Since 2006, Padma has anchored 19 seasons of the Emmy-winning cooking competition series that spawned numerous spinoffs and made stars out of Padma and her longtime cohosts Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons.

“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,” she continued in her statement.

Don’t worry, Padma stans. She’s not leaving our TV screens. In addition to her Top Chef duties, Padma has also hosted a travel cooking docuseries, Taste the Nation, on Hulu. Padma said in her goodbye statement she plans to continue with the show, as well as her books and “other creative pursuits.”

“I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support. Sincerely, Padma,” she ended her statement.

Thankfully, Top Chef isn’t ending alongside Padma’s departure. Last month, Bravo announced the series will return for Season 21.

That’s about all the information we have at the moment. It’s unclear if Tom and Gail will continue or even take on main hosting duties themselves.

Suddenly, binging all 20 seasons of Top Chef may have just skyrocketed to the top of my to-do list.

Thanks for all the great seasons, Padma.