Top Chef season 21 will welcome chef Kristen Kish as the show’s new host.
But why did Padma Lakshmi decide to exit the show?
I feel its time to move on.
Why did she decide to leave after so many years?
In essence, the workload was just too much.
I had been on location for eight months out of the year.
And when I wasnt on location, I was in pre- and post-production for both my shows.
And I was looking at edits of one show while on the set of another show.
It was just exhausting and untenable for me to continue that way, Lakshmi toldVariety.
I also felt Ive done everything I set out to do and more atTop Chef.
Im leaving the show at a very high point, in very capable hands.
Now, its time for me to challenge myself creatively.
Ive also got to make room in my life and my schedule for new things to bubble up.
Those complex factors seemed to include Lakshmis personal and family life.
Producing and hosting multiple shows werent really leaving time for Lakshmis family and relationships.
Totally off-topic, but I havent had a relationship in a long time either, because Im always working.
I dont know when I think I was going to meet anybody.
It wasnt an easy decision.
I am lucky in that Ive had a good robust career.
I can afford not to work for a bit while thinking about the appropriate next move for me.
That is a privilege that Ive not always had in my life.
Sometimes I took a lot of jobs because I needed to pay my rent, Lakshmi said.
So Ive got to wait it out just like everybody else.
The star chef expressed both nervousness but also excitement about her new role on the show.
And she was very good at it, Kish toldMidwest Living.
I knew I had big shoes to fill.
I dont think anyone would have taken that job without a little bit of doubt.
But that doubt wasnt big enough for me to say Im not going to do it.
Thats letting fear lead your decision-making.
I worked hard not to let that happen.
New episodes of Top Chef air on Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on Bravo.
