Comedian Tom Walker joins Great Australian Bake Off as new co-host

A new host has been announced on Great Australian Bake Off, two years after the sudden death of beloved co-host and comedian Cal Wilson.

A new co-host is set to join Great Australian Bake Off when Season 8 premieres on Foxtel and BINGE later this year.

On Monday, the Foxtel Group announced that much-loved comedian Tom Walker will co-host the popular baking show alongside existing host Natalie Tran.

Walker steps into the iconic shed for the first time with fan favourite Tran, and together they will be joined by esteemed returning judges, British culinary icon Rachel Khoo and Aussie pastry king Darren Purchese.

Walker replaces former co-host, beloved comedian Cal Wilson, who sadly passed away from a sudden illness in 2023.

Comedian Tom Walker joins Great Australian Bake Off as new co-host. Picture: Foxtel

“I truly loved being a part of The Great Australian Bake Off,” Walker said in a statement. “The whole crew is so warm, funny, welcoming and kind, and the bakers are so talented it blows my mind.”

“To the little boy who grew up thinking he’d never see a biscuitcity – you were wrong. I’m thrilled to be part of the Bake Off Family.”

Walker will host the hit series alongside existing co-host Natalie Tran. Picture: Foxtel

In a separate statement shared on Instagram, Walker – who rocks an eye-catching cardigan in the first promo pics – gushed: “They let me keep the cardigans and I am still not sure how to pronounce or spell millefeuille! This was genuinely so much fun I struggle to talk about and not sound completely nuts … I am very, very, very happy.”

Walker is no stranger to television, winning over viewers with his infectious charm on shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia and Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee.

The stand-up comic has also won accolades in his industry. In 2016, he won Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and that same year he nabbed the Director’s Choice Award at the Sydney Comedy Festival.

Judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese round up the panel. Picture: Foxtel

The hosting news comes almost two years after the death of Wilson, who hosted the show alongside Tran from 2022. The New Zealand-born comic and TV personality passed away in October 2023 following a short illness. She was 53.

At the time of her death, Wilson had already filmed four episodes of Season 7, with Tran taking on hosting duties solo for the remainder of the season following the tragic news.

“Season 7 of The Great Australian Bake Off holds a special place in all our hearts,” Wendy Moore, Director of Foxtel Channels and Content and Lifestyle Group General Manager, said at the time.

Tran hosted the show with Cal Wilson up until the comedian’s death in 2023. Picture: Foxtel

“Cal’s passing was a devastating shock to the Bake Off family, and she is dearly missed by everyone who knew her. Her deep love for this show and her unique blend of charisma and kindness brightened the shed every day.”

Moore said it was with the full support of Wilson’s family and “with Cal in our hearts” that Season 7 was able to premiere 11 months after her death.

“This year, Bake Off holds a special place in our hearts and allows us to truly celebrate Cal,” Tran added ahead of last year’s premiere.

“This season is a tribute to her memory, the incredible talent of our bakers, and the genuine camaraderie that makes the show so special.”

Originally published as Comedian Tom Walker joins Great Australian Bake Off as new co-host