Dame Prue Leith has warmly endorsed Nigella Lawson as her ideal replacement on The Great British Bake Off, following the recent news of her departure after nearly a decade on the popular baking show.
Since joining as a judge in 2017 alongside Paul Hollywood, stepping in after Dame Mary Berry’s exit, Prue has become a beloved figure in the Bake Off tent. Now, at 85, she has decided to step down to “work less and play more,” choosing to spend more time traveling with her husband, John Playfair.
Initially expecting to serve only two years, she remained longer than planned due to her passion for the show. However, a recent holiday to Madagascar inspired her decision to leave the programme and focus on enjoying life beyond the camera.
READ MORE: M4 Traffic Disruption: Overturned Van Near Prince of Wales Bridge Causes Major Delays
READ MORE: Zara Tindall Poised to Assume Key Royal Role in Horse Racing Under King William
Nigella Lawson, aged 66, was announced as Prue’s successor and has described the opportunity as “unexpected” and humbling. Prue expressed wholehearted confidence in Nigella’s abilities, calling her “perfect” in a piece for The Times. She praised Nigella as a talented baker with an impressive knowledge of everything from cookies to croissants, describing her as “really nice, mighty glam, seriously bright, sexy and sassy.”
Reflecting on her time on Bake Off, Prue called it “the best job,” highlighting the joy of being paid to eat cake for a reputable company without the usual pressures of rehearsals or long meetings. Alongside Paul Hollywood, she simply enjoyed tasting and sharing her honest opinions.
This role also gave her time to write memoirs, fiction, and recipe books, though she will miss working with Paul, as well as hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Acknowledging her age and desire to focus on her personal life, Prue has involved her husband John in her work travels. She shared in a recent podcast that at 85, having John accompany her on trips has become essential, humorously noting that while she doesn’t need a carer, it’s close to it.
Prue and John married in 2016, 14 years after her first husband, Rayne Kruger, passed away in 2002. She has two children with Rayne—Danny and Li-Da, the latter adopted from Cambodia.
Prue’s culinary career began with her training at the prestigious Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London during the 1960s. She later launched a catering business and founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine. Beyond Bake Off, she has appeared on shows like The Great British Menu and currently presents Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen on ITV One.