Prue Leith has confirmed she is stepping down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off after nine series. The 85-year-old baker, who joined the show when it moved from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, made the announcement on Instagram.
In her statement, Leith thanked fellow judge Paul Hollywood, along with presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding. She 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.'
Leith, who turns 86 next month, added that she felt it was the right time to step back, saying: 'There’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.' She expressed gratitude for being part of the show and wished the new judge well.
Channel 4 chief content officer Ian Katz paid tribute, describing Leith as 'a joyous presence in the tent' with 'absolute culinary authority' and 'great generosity and empathy for the bakers.' He confirmed the network looks forward to working with her on new projects.
Fans and former contestants reacted warmly to the news. One commenter called her 'an absolute icon of the baking world,' while another praised her 'naughty double entendres.' The next series of The Great British Bake Off is set to air on Channel 4 later this year.
