Prue Leith confirms The Great British Bake Off exit after nearly a decade in judge role

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After nine years as a judge, Prue Leith is leaving The Great British Bake Off, marking a significant change for the popular show.

Leith became a judge on the baking show in 2017 when it switched channels from BBC to Channel 4, and she’s been a regular part of the show ever since, working alongside Paul Hollywood.

The chef and food writer left the show for its special Stand Up to Cancer celebrity edition in 2024, and Lady Caroline Waldegrave took her place.

Leith has announced she’s leaving Bake Off after nine wonderful years. In a statement, she said she’s truly enjoyed her time on the show and will miss working with Paul Hollywood, Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding, and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.

Now feels like the perfect time for me to retire – I am 86, after all! There are so many things I want to do, including finally enjoying my garden during the summer months. I’m confident whoever takes over will find the work as rewarding as I have, and I feel incredibly grateful for the experience.

While working on the show, Leith has experienced the departures of previous hosts Sandi Toksvig and Matt Lucas.

Love Productions, the makers of the show, expressed their gratitude to Prue, who has been a wonderful judge on Bake Off and a cherished part of the show for almost ten years.

Prue has always been a beloved part of Bake Off, thanks to her real baking knowledge, supportive attitude, and knack for making hilariously suggestive comments that leave everyone – both in the tent and watching at home – in stitches.

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Channel 4’s Ian Katz said Prue Leith has brought wonderful energy to The Great British Baking Show, combining expert cooking knowledge with kindness and understanding towards the contestants. They are thankful for her enthusiasm, humor, and unique personality, and for all the seasons she’s been a part of the show.

She truly made a lasting impact on the show and everyone who baked on it. We’re sad to see her go, especially her kind and clever feedback, but we’re excited about future collaborations.

Although viewers will miss Leith, they can still look forward to more episodes of The Great British Bake Off. Channel 4 has confirmed the show will be back later this year, and Paul Hollywood, Prue Hammond, and Matt Lucas are all likely to return.

This season, we’re adding a week where the audience gets to choose the challenges. We’ve already asked fans for their ideas!

Channel 4 has confirmed that a new judge to take Leith’s place will be announced in due course.

The Great British Bake Off is available to watch on Channel 4 on catch-up.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-01-21 19:06