Just days after announcing her departure from The Great British Bake Off, veteran judge Prue Leith has revealed her next television project. The 85-year-old culinary expert is set to star in a brand new travelogue series for Channel 4, filmed in her native South Africa.
A Familiar Reunion on Screen
Leith will be joined by a very familiar face from her Bake Off days – former host Sandi Toksvig. The pair developed a strong friendship during their time together on the baking competition, and have long discussed collaborating on another television project.
An industry insider revealed: "The two women cemented their friendship during the years on Bake Off. Although Sandi left the tent six years ago, they've remained close pals and long talked about doing more telly work together. Prue's departure from Bake Off gave her more free time to explore other work she had to keep on the back burner."
Filming Already Complete
Remarkably, the new travel series has already finished filming and is scheduled to air later this year on Channel 4. This swift production timeline suggests the project had been in development for some time, awaiting the right moment to proceed.
The series is likely to debut around the same time as the upcoming seventeenth series of The Great British Bake Off in August, creating an interesting scheduling dynamic for Channel 4 viewers.
Why Prue Really Left Bake Off
In a candid interview with The Spectator, Leith explained her decision to step down after nine years as a judge. "I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off," she admitted. "When I joined nine years ago, I thought, since I was in my mid-seventies, that I'd be lucky to manage two years."
The veteran broadcaster revealed that a recent holiday to Madagascar crystallised her thinking. "I suddenly realised that if I don't give up Bake Off, I'll never again have a holiday in the south of France, in Italy, in Spain, or even in Cornwall or Scotland," she explained.
Leith emphasised her desire to "reorganise my life a bit," adding: "Finally, though, the desire to work less and play more got to me. Bake Off and its offshoots such as The Great American Baking Show and even the Christmas specials are all filmed in the summer, which has meant I could never have a summer holiday."
What She'll Miss Most
Despite her excitement about new opportunities, Leith acknowledged there was much she would miss about the baking show. She particularly praised fellow judge Paul Hollywood and the current presenting duo of Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
"I find it irritating when businesses insist their staff are all just one happy family," she noted. "But that tent does seem to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, friendship and mutual support."
Reflecting on her role, she declared: "I never had to learn lines, rehearse, go to meetings. I just had to arrive on set and eat cake all day. There cannot be a better job in the world."
Nigella Lawson Steps Into the Tent
With Leith's departure confirmed, Channel 4 has announced that celebrated food writer and television personality Nigella Lawson will join Paul Hollywood as co-judge for the new series. The 66-year-old will begin filming in April ahead of the show's autumn broadcast.
Lawson admitted to feeling daunted by following in the footsteps of two "great dames" – Leith and her predecessor Mary Berry. In a statement, she said: "I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now. Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement."
She added: "The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure – and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it."
Prue's Seal of Approval
Leith herself offered warm praise for her successor, calling Lawson a "great baker" who is "also really nice, mighty glam and seriously bright, sexy and sassy." She added with characteristic humour: "I'm just glad she wasn't in the running nine years ago."
The television chef reflected on her time with the production company, noting: "In all my conversations over the past two years with the bosses of Love Productions, which makes the programme, they've always insisted I was doing a great job and could stay as long as I like. And I know I'd enjoy it if I stayed."
However, she concluded with her new philosophy: "Ideally, I'd like to work in winter and play in summer." This seasonal shift in her working pattern now allows for both the new travel series with Toksvig and those long-desired summer holidays.
