Harry Hill is to be the host of the Channel 4 series of Junior Bake Off, which will air later this year.

The TV comedian, who lives in Whitstable, appeared in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer in 2018 showcasing his own baking skills.

Harry will host the new 15 part series alongside, Prue Leith who will swap the grown ups tent to judge the budding junior bakers alongside Bake Off pupil Liam Charles.

No stranger to the iconic white tent himself, when Harry appeared in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer show he made his bald lucky cupcakes and a 3D biscuit scene representing the best day of his life entitled “The day I went on holiday with Camilla Parker Bowles” which challenged the judges composure.

The news he is to front the show alongside Prue was announced today by bosses at Channel 4.

Harry, who got an honorary degree from the University of Kent in 2014, said: "I’m very excited to be going back in the tent and breathing the cake fumes - I know a certain Duchess will be looking on, brimming with pride.”

Harry who was brought up in Staplehurst, previously won two BAFTA awards in 2008 for best entertainment programme and best entertainment performance for his Harry Hill TV Burp on ITV.

During his acceptance speech he quipped the county was the reason why he scooped the accolades.

"Ah, Kent - so much to answer for" was Harry's joke as he picked up his awards.

He had not forgotten Kent in his meteoric rise to stardom and previously brought his one man show to such venues as Chatham, Tunbridge Wells and Dartford.

The comedian who was brought up in Staplehurst, took the accolades of best entertainment programme and best entertainment performance for his Harry Hill TV Burp on ITV.

Bake Off judge Prue has spent her career campaigning about the importance of children being taught about food, where it comes from and how to cook it.

She said: "Almost all cooks and bakers start with brownies or pizza, finding it fun, creative and satisfying.

"So the more we can do to widen the nation’s interest in good food the better. I’m really thrilled to be asked to judge Junior Bake Off.”

Fresh from hosting his second series of Bake Off: The Professionals, Liam will take on judging responsibilities for the first time.

He said: "From competing to hosting and now judging, it’s insane.

"It’s going to be great to see what the junior bakers come up with because this is around the age I started.

"I’m well chuffed to be sharing the experience with Prue and Harry, it’s gonna be wicked."

The BAFTA award-winning series made by Love Productions, creators and producers of The Great British Bake Off, will film in the Summer and broadcast on Channel 4 later in the year.

Forty of the country’s best junior bakers, aged nine to 15 will enter the Bake Off tent where their cake-making, biscuit baking, bread and pastry making skills will be tested to the limit.

In each of the ten heats, the junior bakers face two challenges, the technical bake and the showstopper with only four making it through to the grand final.

Kieran Smith, executive producer for Love Productions added: “We are delighted to be giving this much-loved show a new home with Channel 4.

"With Harry, Prue and Liam at the helm we know Junior Bake Off will only go from strength to strength.”

Sarah Lazenby head of features and formats at Channel 4 added: "Harry Hill made himself right at home on last year’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C baking a bikini-clad Camilla Parker Bowles out of gingerbread.

"We’re delighted to welcome him back to the tent and can’t wait to see what mischief he cooks up alongside our judges - Bake Off legend Liam and the mighty Prue on the hunt for the next generation of young British bakers.”

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable