Dame Prue Leith, a culinary legend and prominent judge on Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off (GBBO), has opened up about the uncertainty surrounding her continued involvement with the popular baking series. Since stepping in for Dame Mary Berry in 2017, Dame Prue has been a steadfast presence on the show, delighting fans with her expertise and warm commentary.
As she approaches her eighth year on GBBO, speculation has grown around whether this upcoming series might be her last. Speaking to My Weekly magazine, Dame Prue addressed the rumors with refreshing honesty: “Will this be my last Bake Off? I honestly don’t know.” She explained the unpredictable nature of contract renewals: “We often don’t get a new contract until we’re actually filming a new series.”
Dame Prue expressed a strong desire to retire on her own terms rather than be forced out, saying, “When I stop doing it, I want to jump rather than be pushed. I know I’ll have to stop some time, but right now, I’m very happy.”
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Her recent absence from the celebrity edition of GBBO, which ended in April with Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway crowned the winner, fueled concerns about her departure. However, Dame Prue was quick to put those worries to rest, clarifying that she sat out this year’s celebrity series due to the demanding filming schedule. “These things are filmed back-to-back all the way through summer from April to August so you don’t get any time off. I’m getting quite old and there’s places I want to see. So I’m not doing this year’s,” she shared.
Long before her television success, Dame Prue built an illustrious culinary career. She began training at the prestigious Cordon Bleu Cookery School in France at age 20. Afterward, she launched her own restaurant, Leith’s, in London’s Notting Hill, which she managed for over 25 years. Under her stewardship, Leith’s earned a Michelin star before Dame Prue chose to close it in 1995.
With her legacy firmly established both on and off screen, fans continue to cherish Dame Prue’s wisdom and charm as she navigates the future of her role on GBBO.