At 85, Prue Leith, the celebrated cookery writer and Great British Bake Off judge, is defying expectations of what it means to grow old. In a refreshingly candid revelation, she has branded popular fitness regimes like Pilates, yoga, and push-ups as personal "variations of hell."
Forced Exercise is a Form of Torture
In her forthcoming book, Being Old…And Learning to Love It, set for release on 26 February, Leith pulls no punches about her aversion to structured workouts. "I find exercise for the sake of exercise painful and unbelievably boring," she declares. She singles out the Pilates reformer machine, running in the rain, and bedroom floor push-ups as particular horrors, extending her list to include steps and spinning classes.
Leith, who lives with her 77-year-old husband, retired clothes designer John Playfair, in their self-built home in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, is having none of the standard wellness advice for seniors. She openly rejects the common "MEDS" mantra—encompassing Mindset, Exercise, Diet, and Stress reduction—stating bluntly, "Needless to say, I don't match up."
A Love for Sport, Not Suffering
This isn't a manifesto for inactivity, however. The broadcaster clarifies that she is not exercise-shy but simply prefers sociable and competitive pastimes. "I love tennis because it's sociable and there's a chance you'll win," she explains. She recalls with fondness the exhilaration of riding, particularly exercising polo ponies on Ham Common in London with a group of friends at dawn.
Age has necessitated some adaptations. She gave up riding solo over safety fears, stopped tennis due to falls, and now opts for fishing from a boat and sit-skiing. "All these accommodations have been forced on me, and I'm fine with that," she says pragmatically. "I don't want to be swept away by the river Spey or to break my neck on an Alpine piste."
Defying Ageing Stereotypes with Style
Known for her vibrant wardrobe and bold spectacles, Leith is resolutely not fading into the background. She criticises the outdated notion that people over 60 should become invisible, wearing beige and avoiding fun. "I think they were brainwashed," she says of previous generations who felt certain activities were 'inappropriate'.
She maintains a hectic schedule, enjoying work trips with her husband that turn into mini-breaks, and relishes a bit of stress to keep life interesting. Her ultimate, age-defying mantra? "Nothing in moderation!" Prue Leith, it seems, is rewriting the rulebook on ageing with characteristic wit and unapologetic zest.
