Madeleine Sami to host TVNZ's Great Kiwi Bake Off

Sue Fleischl, Madeleine Sami, Hayley Sproull and Dean Brettschneider will judge and host The Great Kiwi Bake Off. Photo / Supplied

From break ups to bake offs, Madeleine Sami has announced her latest project, hosting TVNZ's hotly anticipated new reality series, The Great Kiwi Bake Off.

Sami was last seen on the big screen, starring in The Breaker Upperers, which she wrote and directed alongside Jackie van Beek. But the Funny Girls star says she jumped at the chance to host the baking series.

"It's one of my favourite TV shows and when the opportunity came up to work on the Kiwi version I literally squealed with excitement," said Sami.

New Zealand's version of the popular Great British Bake Off is heading to our screens later this year and the newly announced hosts and judges are ready to see what Kiwis have to offer.

Sami will host the series alongside Hayley Sproull, while Dean Brettschneider and Sue Fleischl will judge the Kiwi bakers' efforts as they battle it out to be crowned New Zealand's best amateur baker.

Sproull says she is looking forward to the "wild ride - fuelled by sugar, icing and lots of cream".

Award-winning baker Brettschneider and renowned chef Fleischl bring their expertise to the judging table.

"I can't wait to get cracking on the show and to see and nurture all the great home bakers," said Brettschneider, who's known internationally as "the Global Baker".

Trained at the Savoy Hotel in London and with over 20 years experience heading up The Great Catering Company, Fleischl is also looking forward to seeing what culinary delights the contestants whisk up in weeks to come.

"I'm so excited to be a judge alongside the very talented Dean Brettschneider," she said.

Based on the same Love Production format as the popular UK version, the show will see the Kiwi contestants take on a different baking skill each week until there's only one left standing.

Originally hosted by Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, The Great British Bake Off has made stars out of both the hosts and judges Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and Prue Leith, and inspired multiple versions to pop up around the globe.