Prue Leith quits The Great British Bake Off after nine years, but why?
The Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has announced she is leaving the Channel 4 cookery competition show after nine years but insists the series has been a "fabulous part of my life".
Prue Leith has announced she is quitting The Great British Bake Off after nine years as a judge in the famous white tent.
The 85-year-old culinary expert and author joined the cookery programme in 2017, replacing Mary Berry following Bake Off’s move from the BBC to Channel 4, and has since become a much-loved fixture on the show alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood - who has been on the show from the start - and current presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Although the decision marks the end of a significant chapter in her television career, Prue has explained that the timing feels right.
After almost a decade on the show, she is keen to slow down and enjoy some down time and intends to spend the summer at home tending to her garden.
In her statement posted on Instagram, Prue said: "After nine series and judging more than 400 challenges, I have decided to step down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
"Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4. But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden. Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it."
During her time on the show, Prue became known not only for her culinary authority but also for her gentle encouragement of the often stressed contestants and her unintentionally cheeky remarks, which often left the tent — and viewers at home — in hysterics.
Recognising her huge contribution to the show, Love Productions said in a statement: "From her genuine expertise and encouragement of the bakers to her ability to drop innocent innuendos that reduce the entire tent (and the audience at home) to tears of laughter, Prue will always have a piece of Bake Off’s heart.”
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz echoed those sentiments, adding: “Prue Leith has been a joyous presence in the tent, pairing absolute culinary authority with great generosity and empathy for the bakers. We are grateful for her passion, her wit, her ineffable style, and all the summers she spent in the tent. She leaves an indelible mark on the show and all its bakers.”
