Padma Lakshmi QUITS Top Chef: Host exits hit show after 17 years and 19 seasons – as star says: ‘It’s time to move on to other creative pursuits’

Padma Lakshmi has quit Top Chef after 19 seasons as host. 

The star, 52, announced her departure on Instagram on Friday, where she revealed her decision stemmed from a desire to move onto ‘other creative pursuits’ after 17 years on the Bravo show.

She wrote: ‘After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef. 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. 

‘I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support. Sincerely, Padma.’

Farewell: The star, 52, announced her departure on Instagram on Friday, where she revealed her decision stemmed from a desire to move onto ‘other creative pursuits’ after 17 years on the Bravo show

Top Chef began in 2006 and was hosted by Katie Lee Joel. Lakshmi began hosting the show in season 2.

She joined judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons on the show.

The show features chefs competing against each other in culinary challenges. The contestants are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry, with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode. 

She has scored four Emmy nominations for  outstanding reality show host and 10 Emmy nominations for outstanding competition program as a producer on the show.

The success of the show has resulted in multiple spin-offs, such as Top Chef Masters, Top Chef: Just Desserts, Top Chef Junior and Top Chef Amateurs.

Padma shares 13-year-old daughter Krishna Thea, with venture capitalist Adam Dell, brother of computer magnate Michael Dell.

She was married to novelist Salman Rushdie from 2004 – 2007.

Line-up: Top Chef began in 2006 and was hosted by Katie Lee Joel. Lakshmi began hosting the show in season 2 (pictured with Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Kirk Westaway)

Beloved: She has scored four Emmy nominations for outstanding reality show host and 10 Emmy nominations for outstanding competition program as a producer on the show

The Emmy-nominated food expert, television producer, host, and New York Times bestselling author is thriving on her Hulu show Taste The Nation which is going into its second season.

The single parent has said: ‘I think on Top Chef, for so long, my position and my role on that show caused people to think I was more intimidating than I am — I had to be stoic in my role — but that’s not me normally.’ 

‘You know, it was a new skill for me to interview people,’ she admitted.

‘I mean, I’m a food writer.

‘Before Taste the Nation, I could count on one hand the times I had to interview people, and those were at a literary festival or a food festival — it wasn’t for anything very high stakes. It was something I had to learn on set, and I’m still learning.’

And she has her journalism skills down.

‘I think the reason I learned [how to become an interviewer] so quickly is that I’m genuinely interested,’ Lakshmi confided.

‘The whole show is created around all of my various interests: history, food, people, languages, traveling. I’m genuinely curious.’