Dame Prue Leith, the beloved Great British Bake Off judge, recently opened up about a key financial lesson she learned early in her career. Reflecting on advice from her first husband, Rayne Kruger, she admitted she should have listened when he warned her about a costly business decision.
Before becoming a household name on GBBO, Prue embarked on her culinary journey in the early 1960s by leaving England for France. She trained at the prestigious Cordon Bleu Cookery School in Paris, laying the groundwork for a distinguished career in food.
In 1969, Prue launched her own restaurant, Leith’s, which earned a Michelin star, marking her as a rising star in the culinary scene. Alongside this success, she took on a contract to manage the catering at the Serpentine Gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens.
Though promising, the Serpentine venture did not go as planned. Speaking to Observer magazine, Prue admitted that her first husband cautioned her against this project. “I had visions of Chablis and smoked salmon, but what customers wanted was a burger. We lost money hand over fist. I should have listened,” she said.
Prue’s marriage to Rayne Kruger lasted 28 years until his passing in 2002, during which they raised their son, Danny Kruger. Since then, Prue has remarried, tying the knot with former fashion designer John Playfair, who recently appeared with her on Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen.
Despite the early financial setback at the Serpentine, Prue’s career has flourished. In 2017, she took over from Dame Mary Berry as a judge on the Great British Bake Off, alongside Paul Hollywood. While fans noticed her absence from this year’s celebrity series, which was won by Kate Garraway, Prue confirmed the break was a personal choice to rest. She reassured fans that she remains committed to judging the main series.
Prue Leith’s story highlights the importance of listening to trusted advice and the resilience required to build a lasting legacy in the competitive world of culinary arts.