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Prue Leith, a longtime judge for the hit baking competition series \u201cThe Great British Baking Show,\u201d is leaving the tent. <\/p>\n
The baking connoisseur, known among fans and competitors for her affinity for boozy sweets and vibrant fashion and accessory choices, announced her departure from the wholesome series on Wednesday morning. \u201cBake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a>, praising her co-judge celebrity chef Paul Hollywood and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding. <\/p>\n She continued: \u201cBut now feels like the right time to step back (I\u2019m 86 for goodness sake!), there\u2019s so much I\u2019d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.\u201d<\/p>\n Leith joined \u201cThe Great British Baking Show\u201d (alternatively titled \u201cThe Great British Bake-Off\u201d in the United Kingdom) in 2017, succeeding cookbook author Mary Berry. Berry had been a judge on the series since its debut in 2010 but exited<\/a> when the series made the move from the BBC to Channel 4, a commercial broadcaster. <\/p>\n Since joining the series, Leith has sampled scores of competitors\u2019 signature bakes, judged technical baking challenges and marveled at numerous bakers\u2019 memorable confectionery showstoppers. Notably, she and Hollywood served as co-judges during series 11 of the show, which was filmed and aired amid the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>. <\/p>\n Before \u201cThe Great British Baking Show,\u201d Leith was a judge on BBC Two\u2019s cooking competition series \u201cGreat British Menu.\u201d Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Leith was appointed with damehood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the best Prue,\u201d Hollywood captioned a photo of himself and Leith on the set of \u201cGreat British Baking Show\u201d in rococo-style costumes. <\/p>\n Other members of the \u201cBaking Show\u201d community praised Leith in the comments section of her post. Rahul Mandal, a timid baker who won the series in 2018, wrote<\/a> that Leith is \u201ckind, funny, passionate and always inspired us.\u201d 2025 competitors including Aaron Mountford-Myles, Jessika Trassel and winner Jasmine Mitchell also celebrated Leith\u2019s tenure in the comments. <\/p>\n \u201cYou are a force of nature and an inspiration to the world,\u201d co-host Fielding captioned a handful of photos<\/a> from their time on set. \u201cA dazzle of colours and that wonderful smile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will miss you so much Prue,\u201d Hammond said in an Instagram story<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cGreat British Baking Show\u201d will return for a new season later this year. Channel 4 confirmed that Leith\u2019s successor will be announced at a later date, according to the Guardian<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWhoever joins the team, I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it,\u201d Leith concluded her caption. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n