Oh, the sweet irony, the Kids Baking Championship has a bittersweet ending for beloved host Valerie Bertinelli. Our kitchens and our hearts feel a bit emptier today.
After giving us a sprinkle of joy for 12 delightful seasons, Valerie, aged 63, will no longer be standing next to Duff Goldman, charming us with her wit and wisdom. The longtime host shared the tough news on Instagram, saying with a heavy heart, “It really hurt my feelings, and I know it’s not supposed to. Logically I know it’s business. Budget cuts, right?” Ouch.
According to People, there was absolutely discussion about renewing her contract, but talks fizzled out when her team decided she deserved more. And who could disagree? considering how much she’s enriched the show. It’s like making a glorious cake and deciding not to add the icing—just doesn’t feel right.
This isn’t just business, though. For Valerie, Kids Baking Championship was a lot more than a job; it was a slice of happiness during a trying time. “It was the apex year of hell,” she candidly noted about 2022, also marking her divorce year from Tom Vitale. As she beautifully admitted, “Without sounding like a drama queen, the show saved my life.” Cue the tears.
Season 12 of the show, filmed during that challenging summer, is currently treating us to a whole batch of talent. Yet it brought solace to Valerie despite her off-screen struggles. “I was going through it, and pretending everything was just fine, because that’s what you do,” she added. Who knew that beneath all of those molten chocolate cakes lay a molten heart?
Not one to focus solely on the sour notes, Bertinelli went on to shower praises on her fantastic co-host Duff Goldman and the wonderful team she had the pleasure of working with over the past 12 seasons. Check out her heartfelt note of gratitude attached below.
“To all the bakers that are coming in for the new season, even though I won’t be there, I’ll be with you in spirit,” she added. And honestly, Valerie, you’re forever a part of this show’s marbled soul.
Every farewell is tough, especially when it’s served on a platter where we’ve found so much joy and camaraderie. Though Valerie’s absence will be felt profoundly, her essence will flutter around the Kids Baking Championship like an eternal dollop of cream. Here’s to the invaluable memories and all the deliciously wonderful moments she gave us.
