Prue Leith has candidly revealed a major career blunder that cost her a significant amount of money, following her departure from The Great British Bake Off. The 86-year-old television personality and restaurateur reflected on her professional journey, acknowledging that not all ventures have been successful.
Costly Catering Venture
Speaking to Heat Magazine, Leith admitted: "People think I've had nothing but success because I'm very quick to tell them about the wins, but I don't tell them about the failures. I once got a contract to do all the catering in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. I had this idea that people would love to have some smoked salmon and a glass of Chardonnay." She added: "At the time, the public were into the slimy burgers from a van and horrible coffee in plastic cups - they didn't want decent food. I lost a lot of money. I have had failures, but I'm glad to say I've had more successes."
A Storied Career
Leith's career in the food industry began long before her television fame. She opened Leith's restaurant in Notting Hill in 1969, which earned a Michelin star. Six years later, she founded Leith's School of Food and Wine, now known as Leith's Education. The institution has expanded beyond traditional cookery courses to include digital learning, school programmes, and broader gastronomic training. Leith is also a bestselling author and remains a familiar face on television.
Life After Bake Off
Leith announced her exit from The Great British Bake Off in January after nearly a decade as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood. She chose to step down to enjoy more free time during the summer months with her family. "I'm having a fantastically good time," she said. "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." She also plans a three-week trip to Italy with her husband, John Playfair: "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 Plans to Retire
Despite enjoying more downtime, Leith has dismissed any notion of retirement. She remains busy with new projects, including another series of Prue Leith's Cotswolds Kitchen, a recently filmed travel show with Sandi Toksvig in South Africa, and her latest book Being Old... and Learning to Love It.
