Dame Prue Leith opened up about a memorable conversation with legendary Great British Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry, who delivered a stark piece of advice as Prue prepared to take over her role.
Mary Berry, a beloved figure in British baking and television, originally judged alongside Paul Hollywood when the show launched on the BBC in 2010. After six successful years, Berry left the show following its move to Channel 4, paving the way for Prue Leith to join Paul as co-judge.
In a recent episode of the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, Prue shared the pivotal moment when she called Mary Berry to ask about working with Paul Hollywood—knowing Mary had worked with Paul for eight years and could provide honest insights.
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Prue recalled Mary’s praise of Paul: “He is so good and he knows baking inside and out. He’s a lovely, friendly guy and easy to work with.” Yet Mary didn’t shy away from giving a candid caution: “But, he knows so much and he’s so knowledgeable, he doesn’t need you at all. You have to just hold your own and push yourself in because he’ll just do the show without you.”
Since taking over in 2017, Prue Leith has become a staple of the Great British Bake Off tent. However, she was notably absent from the recent celebrity special won by Kate Garraway, citing the demanding filming schedule as a reason.
“They film non-stop through summer, from April to August, so there’s no real time off,” Prue explained. She also mentioned her age and desire to travel as factors in stepping back: “I’m getting quite old and there are places I want to see. So I’m not doing this year.”
Prue’s story highlights both the camaraderie and the challenges of joining an established show with strong personalities like Paul Hollywood, and her respect for Mary Berry’s honest guidance remains clear.