Padma Lakshmi Planning Cooking Show On CBS

Photo: Reuters/Danny Moloshok

India-West News Desk
LOS ANGELES, CA – Padma Lakshmi, the former host and judge of Top Chef, is teaming up with former NBCUniversal content chief Susan Rovner for a new cooking competition series on CBS, according to Deadline. The show is still in the early development stages, it said.
Lakshmi will serve as both executive producer and host of the upcoming series. This new project follows her departure from Top Chef, which she announced in June 2023 after 19 successful seasons. During her time on the show, Lakshmi not only hosted but also tasted “every single thing.”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she had explained that her decision to leave was partly driven by a desire to focus on her documentary-style food show, Taste the Nation.
CBS currently lacks a food-focused competition in its lineup. Given the crowded market for cooking shows, the series will need a unique angle to stand out. However, Deadline notes that Lakshmi’s involvement is a major draw, as her expertise and on-screen presence were instrumental in making Top Chef a household name.