The SABC3 Expresso chef Zola Nene has replaced Shirley Guy as judge in the third upcoming season of BBC Worldwide Africa's The Great South African Bake Off starting in October on BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174).
It is the first judge change for the Rapid Blue produced show, based on The Love Productions format, that saw a presenter change in the second season.
Filming of the new third season is starting this month.
According to BBC South Africa, Shirley Guy who was a judge alongside Tjaart Walraven, decided that she wanted to "spend more time with her family" and pursue other projects.
Zola Nene will now judge the contestants' baking alongside Tjaart Walraven, with comedian Anne Hirsch and Lentswe Bhengu both back as co-presenters.
Zola Nene, originally from Durban, now lives in Cape Town and works as a TV chef, appearing on Expresso.
After working as a pastry chef in England, she returned to Stellenbosch and studied at the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch and has become a cookbook author.
"I started my career in the food world as a pastry chef and ever since then I have always loved baking," says Zola Nene in a statement.
"I'm hugely excited to be joining The South African Bake Off family, simply because I'm a big fan of the show. I know it's going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to meet all of the new hopeful bakers and join them on this exciting new adventure."
Tjaart Walraven says "it is fantastic that Zola will be joining the team. It has been an absolute pleasure judging alongside Shirley Guy for series one and two but I know it is going to be a fun new experience working with Zola. I'm very excited to get into the tent and see all the new contestants and of course - sample their bakes."
