Bake Off The Professionals: Why has Tom Allen left the series and who is replacing him?

Bake Off: The Professionals returns to Channel 4 tonight, however beloved co-presenter Tom Allen won’t be back in the tent.

Instead, Liam Charles will be joined by a new host as the search for Britain’s best patisserie team begins again for its fifth series.

This time around, patisserie teams from establishments in Manchester, Cumbria, Wiltshire, , and compete to be crowned the champion.

Kicking things off, judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden task the pastry chefs to create 36 individual strawberry cakes and a chocolate sculpture, with no recipe to work from.

They are then challenged to transform an ordinary treacle tart into a fine dining experience.

Why has Tom Allen left Bake Off: The Professionals?

Tom Allen announced his departure from Bake Off: The Professionals in February, explaining that it was ‘time to move on’.

‘I’ve had the best time co-hosting The Professionals down in Sussex with my wonderful friend Lam but now is the time to move on,’ he said in a post shared on Instagram.

Tom added: ‘It was my first TV presenting job back in 2018 and it has taught me so much – thanks to the amazing team with whom I’ve loved working, all the incredible chefs and most of all Benoit, Cherish and of course the brilliant Liam. Have a great series, you guys!! X’

Who is replacing Tom Allen on Bake Off: The Professionals?

Stacey Solomon has replaced Tom Allen as the co-host of Bake Off The Professionals.

The Loose Woman presenter, 32, said she gets to ‘eat cake all day’ while fronting the seventh series alongside former contestant and fan favourite Liam Charles.

‘I can finally say the reason I have been going off and filming every few weeks is because I am going to be presenting Bake Off The Professionals this year,’ Stacey said of her signing in an Instagram post.

‘I was so excited when they asked me and we filmed a couple of episodes and it’s just been so much fun.

‘Everyone is so lovely and I basically just count them in and say ready steady go and then eat cake all day, its such a cool job, I love it so much and am just so excited for it.’