The Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith has revealed that a six-word complaint — "every year was exactly the same" — sparked her decision to leave the show. The 86-year-old judge announced her departure in January after nine years on the panel, with Nigella Lawson stepping in to join Paul Hollywood.
Why Prue Leith Decided to Leave Bake Off
Speaking on Katherine Ryan's podcast What's My Age, Leith explained that the repetitive nature of the show prompted her exit. "I always want to do new stuff. Bake Off was absolutely wonderful and I loved it and I love the people and all the rest of it. But it wasn’t new, every year was exactly the same," she said.
Leith acknowledged that nine years is a long tenure but noted her history of long commitments. "I'm quite a sticker. Nine years is quite a long time but, before that, I did The Great British Menu and I did that for 11 years. So I am quite a stayer and I did love Bake Off and I could have gone on happily doing Bake Off because I was enjoying it but, you know, in the end, it was shrinking horizons that forced me into it."
More Time with Family and Travel Plans
Leith also cited a desire to spend more time with her husband, John Playfair, and family after years of summer filming commitments. Speaking to Heat Magazine, she said: "I'm having a fantastically good time. One of the reasons I gave up Bake Off was so that I could have more of a summer - and more holidays. I've already booked a week in France with all my grandchildren and their parents, so that'll be fun. I hope to have three weeks in Italy with John, driving down the coast of Puglia. John is a great believer in going away for three weeks, because he says you can't really see anything in less than that."
No Retirement for Leith
Despite stepping back from Bake Off, Leith has dismissed the idea of retirement. She remains busy with a second series of Prue Leith’s Cotswolds Kitchen, a new travel show in South Africa with former Bake Off host Sandi Toksvig, and her latest book Being Old... and Learning to Love It.
The Future of The Great British Bake Off
The Great British Bake Off will continue with Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson as judges, while Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are expected to return as hosts. The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer airs tonight at 7pm on Channel 4.
