Prue Leith, a longtime choose for the hit baking competitors sequence “The Nice British Baking Present,” is leaving the tent.
The baking connoisseur, identified amongst followers and rivals for her affinity for boozy sweets and vibrant style and accent decisions, introduced her departure from the healthful sequence on Wednesday morning. “Bake Off has been a wonderful a part of my life for the final 9 years,” she wrote on Instagram, praising her co-judge movie star chef Paul Hollywood and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
She continued: “However now looks like the best time to step again (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s a lot I’d love to do, not least spend summers having fun with my backyard.”
Leith joined “The Nice British Baking Present” (alternatively titled “The Nice British Bake-Off” in the UK) in 2017, succeeding cookbook creator Mary Berry. Berry had been a choose on the sequence since its debut in 2010 however exited when the sequence made the transfer from the BBC to Channel 4, a industrial broadcaster.
Since becoming a member of the sequence, Leith has sampled scores of rivals’ signature bakes, judged technical baking challenges and marveled at quite a few bakers’ memorable confectionery showstoppers. Notably, she and Hollywood served as co-judges throughout sequence 11 of the present, which was filmed and aired amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier than “The Nice British Baking Present,” Leith was a choose on BBC Two’s cooking competitors sequence “Nice British Menu.” Born in Cape City, South Africa, Leith was appointed with damehood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2021.
“You’re the perfect Prue,” Hollywood captioned a photograph of himself and Leith on the set of “Nice British Baking Present” in rococo-style costumes.
Different members of the “Baking Present” group praised Leith within the feedback part of her publish. Rahul Mandal, a timid baker who gained the sequence in 2018, wrote that Leith is “type, humorous, passionate and at all times impressed us.” 2025 rivals together with Aaron Mountford-Myles, Jessika Trassel and winner Jasmine Mitchell additionally celebrated Leith’s tenure within the feedback.
“You’re a power of nature and an inspiration to the world,” co-host Fielding captioned a handful of images from their time on set. “A dazzle of colors and that fantastic smile.”
“We are going to miss you a lot Prue,” Hammond stated in an Instagram story.
“Nice British Baking Present” will return for a brand new season later this yr. Channel 4 confirmed that Leith’s successor might be introduced at a later date, in keeping with the Guardian.
“Whoever joins the workforce, I’m certain they’ll like it as a lot as I’ve. I really feel very fortunate to have been a part of it,” Leith concluded her caption.
