Prue Leith's Candid Reflections on Bake Off Exit and Hollywood Friendship
As speculation intensifies regarding her potential successor, Dame Prue Leith has offered remarkably frank insights into her working relationship with Great British Bake Off mainstay Paul Hollywood. The celebrated judge, who recently confirmed her departure from the iconic baking competition, shared intimate details about their off-screen camaraderie while revealing one particular production element she wishes the cameras would consistently avoid.
A Natural Time to Step Away
After nine memorable seasons presiding over the famous Bake Off tent, Dame Prue Leith has decided the moment is right to conclude her judging tenure. "Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it," she affirmed. The culinary expert insists this represents simply "the right time" to step down from her role on the perennially popular programme, humorously noting: "I'm 86 for goodness' sake!"
In conversation with The Times, Prue elaborated that significant life ambitions remain, "not least spend summers enjoying my garden." Alongside her husband John Playfair, the couple are enthusiastic travellers who frequently explore less conventional destinations like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. With Bake Off occupying substantial portions of her summer schedule, relinquishing the role emerged as the logical decision.
Genuine Friendship Beyond the Tent
Despite her departure, Prue confesses she will sincerely miss her fellow judge Paul Hollywood. "We're very good friends," she disclosed, explaining they typically stay at the same hotel during filming for both the UK's Bake Off and its American counterpart, The Great American Baking Show. Their post-filming routine often involves "a drink together," after which "Paul will go off to watch football and I will just skip supper because we've been eating all day and I don't really feel like it."
The One Camera Angle She Dislikes
Nevertheless, Prue acknowledges one aspect of collaborating with Paul on Bake Off that she finds less appealing. Whenever she watches the programme – which she emphasises occurs infrequently – one repeated visual irritates her. "I just think, 'Oh my God, why do they always have me eating?' Which is a very ugly thing to be doing. And never Paul," she remarked.
Prue observes that when cameras focus on Paul, audiences typically witness his signature steely-eyed gaze: "Paul gets the sort of good stare, and he looks fantastic. But you don't see Paul putting much food in his mouth." Having evaluated approximately 400 challenges across nine series, she added: "I may be imagining this. I think, 'I wish the cameraman wasn't going round the back and taking photographs of my fat places."
With characteristic self-deprecation, she continued: "And my profile is awful. And why don't I keep my chin up, and then my double chin wouldn't show?' It's ridiculous because I am what I am. And everybody knows what I am. They seem to not mind. So why do I mind? But I do."
Speculation Mounts Over Succession
Widespread conjecture suggests Prue's position might be assumed by someone already celebrated for blending culinary expertise with the playful innuendo synonymous with Bake Off. "Nigella [Lawson] is recognised worldwide," an insider informed The Sun. "She's got the cheeky banter down to a tee, with all her work laden with the fun innuendos and naughty patter that are synonymous with Bake Off. Prue has been wonderful but Nigella will be a sure-fire hit."
Prue herself professes no knowledge regarding her replacement: "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." Her departure marks the end of an era for the beloved baking competition, leaving fans eagerly anticipating both her future endeavours and the next chapter for the iconic show.
