The Great Australian Bake Off’s Natalie Tran breaks down as she remembers co-host Cal Wilson following her death at age 53: ‘The world is a much sadder place without Cal’

Natalie Tran broke down in tears on The Project on Wednesday night as she remembered her friend and co-star Cal Wilson following his death at 53.

The beloved comedian was surrounded by friends on Wednesday when she passed away at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Following a segment honoring the late comedian, The Project’s Waleed Ali asked The Great Australian Bake Off host how he deals with the tragic news.

“I think, like anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Cal, I am heartbroken,” she began.

“I don’t think you can find a single person who has anything bad to say about her.” She was a beautiful person, so kind and giving and fun…

“I’m very grateful to know here … it’s a very sad day,” she continued, visibly moved.

Co-host Sarah Harris continued to ask Nat what he wanted to work with.

“Cal was like working with Santa Claus who didn’t care if you were naughty or nice, you got presents anyway,” the 37-year-old said, before adding that she had been wearing the earrings Cal had given her since they first met. .

“She was a cheerleader for every person who worked with her and we all loved her very much,” she added.

“I would describe Kel as someone who absolutely adored and loved (husband) Chris and (son) Digby,” she said, breaking down.

‘She was one of the greatest people you could ever meet.’

“The world is a much sadder place without Cal,” she trailed off, overcome with emotion.

Cal co-hosted Foxtel’s The Great Australian Bake Off with Tran, Darren Purchese and Rachel Khoo.

Earlier in the day, Purchese revealed the comedian looked ‘very ill’ when he last saw her while issuing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

“Cal was easy going and such a joyful good person, witty and the kindest,” he wrote.

“This is so unfair and I will never forget my precious time with Cal.”

He also spoke candidly about the last time he saw Wilson.

“I’m sorry this happened to such a good person and I can’t get it out of my head when I last saw her when she was very sick,” he wrote.

“I wish I could hug her and tell her how much she means to me and to so many people.”

Tributes for the comedian continued to pour in after the sad news of her death.

Austrian actress Rebel Wilson said: ‘This is so tragic and my heart goes out to Cal’s family.’

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with Cal on a number of projects, especially over the last few years where she’s written some great material for me. She was incredibly talented and incredibly kind.’

Adam Miller, who was a finalist on The Great Australian Bake Off this year, also shared the tribute and recalled the moment Wilson comforted him on set.

“I can’t stop thinking about the moment when Cal saw me alone in the corner of the Bake Off shed, noticed I was quite taken with it all, and offered me the warmest, most comforting hug,” he wrote.

“At this point I burst into tears and she just stood there with me and shared wise and hilarious words to get me through the moment.”

Wilson was surrounded by friends on Wednesday when she passed away SydneyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital

She is survived by her husband Chris and son Digby.

The New Zealand-born star was based in Melbourne but is understood to have been in Sydney while filming Foxtel’s The Great Australian Bake Off.

Her exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but her management team at Token Artists said in a statement on Wednesday that she had been battling a ‘short illness’.