Dame Prue Leith will be taking a step back from The Great British Bake Off.
The 84-year-old chef has been a judge on the popular Channel 4 show since 2017 alongside Paul Hollywood who has been a part of it since its inception in 2010. Dame Prue was brought onto the show after Mary Berry decided to step down from the role.
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off airs on Sunday with Spencer Matthews, Paloma Faith, Munya Chawawa, and Jodie Whittaker, and Dame Prue has promoted the upcoming episode indicating she is very much part of this offering.
However, Love Productions, who produce the show, released a statement to confirm changes in the future: ‘Prue will be stepping back from The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.’
The show is reportedly eyeing up replacements for the summer series with Nigella Lawson a favourite, according to The Sun.
A source claimed that filming two series a year has become ‘punishing on top of her other commitments’ for Dame Prue.
‘Prue has made it clear she adores the show and would like to come back in 2025,’ they added.
‘She will turn 85 next year, so it’s not surprising that she wants to take time off.’
Dame Prue will no doubt be missed on the spin-off of The Great British Bake Off by hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, who she has great on-screen chemistry with, but luckily, she remains committed to the civilian series.
The format has proven such a hit since it originally began in 2010 on BBC, it is now said to be eyed up by streaming giants Disney Plus and Netflix, which has led to a ‘100,000,000 tug of war’.
One of Dame Prue’s other projects is the ITV show Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen, which she promoted on a recent The One Show appearance and joked about her husband, retired fashion designer John Playfair, joining her on it.
‘I’m frankly p***ed off about it,’ she stated. At which point she was reminded it was a pre-watershed show, but presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp were clearly amused.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Great British Bake Off and Dame Prue Leith for comment.
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off airs March 17 at 7.40pm on Channel 4
