The 86-year-old restaurateur left the Channel 4 show last month after nine years<\/h2>\n\n![\"Prue](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10487940.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/4_pru.jpg\")
<\/div>\nPrue Leith opens up on ‘important’ Bake Off decision as she unveils new role(Image: Channel 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Prue Leith has declared she has “no regrets” whilst revealing a fresh venture, following her departure from The Great British Bake Off<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe 86-year-old restaurateur and television personality confirmed she was stepping down from the popular baking programme<\/a> last month after nine years on the show.<\/p>\nPrue became part of the series in 2017 when it transferred from the BBC<\/a> to Channel 4, and has since become a cherished presence, serving as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood.<\/p>\nIn a statement, she said: “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for nine years. I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison [Hammond] and Noel [Fielding], and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.”<\/p>\n
It has now been announced that television chef and writer Nigella Lawson will succeed Prue as the new judge. Nigella is set to join Paul in the tent for the forthcoming series, which will air later this year, reports Gloucestershire Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Dame](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10836476.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_-Embaroged-0001-Tuesday-10th-October-2023-The-Great-British-Bake-Off-Series-14-Ep4.jpg\")
<\/div>\nPrue Leith announced her exit from Bake Off(Image: Channel 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
READ MORE: Bake Off fans all say same thing as Channel 4 show welcomes new judge<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Who is taking part in Celebrity Bake Off 2026? Channel 4 release full line-up of stars<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJust weeks after her announcement, Prue made an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, where she discussed her latest book, Being Old and Learning to Love It, with presenter Lorraine Kelly.<\/p>\n
The star also looked back on her Bake Off exit, with Lorraine remarking: “Obviously, everyone’s talking about you not being on Bake Off. You’re going to be so sadly missed on that show, because it’s a brilliant show. But you [have] no regrets about making the decision, you felt it was the right thing to do?”<\/p>\n
Prue explained: “It was the right thing to do, because I’m getting on and I haven’t much time left. I suddenly realised I will never again have a summer holiday in Europe. I’ll never be able to go to France or Italy or Greece or Spain, because I’d be filming.<\/p>\n
“I just thought, ‘I want to do that.’ Of course, I could have holidays in the winter. You could go to South Africa, cause I’m South African, so I love the sun. But I wanted a European holiday. So, this year, I’m going to take the whole family to France for a week. I could never do that before.”<\/p>\n
Lorraine observed: “There’s also that thing, Prue, that you’re going loving it. You’re actually going out on a high. You still love it.”<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10836475.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screenshot-9428.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe star appeared on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nPrue Leith opens up on ‘important’ Bake Off decision as she unveils new role(Image: Channel 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Prue Leith has declared she has “no regrets” whilst revealing a fresh venture, following her departure from The Great British Bake Off<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 86-year-old restaurateur and television personality confirmed she was stepping down from the popular baking programme<\/a> last month after nine years on the show.<\/p>\n Prue became part of the series in 2017 when it transferred from the BBC<\/a> to Channel 4, and has since become a cherished presence, serving as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood.<\/p>\n In a statement, she said: “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for nine years. I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison [Hammond] and Noel [Fielding], and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.”<\/p>\n It has now been announced that television chef and writer Nigella Lawson will succeed Prue as the new judge. Nigella is set to join Paul in the tent for the forthcoming series, which will air later this year, reports Gloucestershire Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n Prue Leith announced her exit from Bake Off(Image: Channel 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n READ MORE: Bake Off fans all say same thing as Channel 4 show welcomes new judge<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Who is taking part in Celebrity Bake Off 2026? Channel 4 release full line-up of stars<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Just weeks after her announcement, Prue made an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, where she discussed her latest book, Being Old and Learning to Love It, with presenter Lorraine Kelly.<\/p>\n The star also looked back on her Bake Off exit, with Lorraine remarking: “Obviously, everyone’s talking about you not being on Bake Off. You’re going to be so sadly missed on that show, because it’s a brilliant show. But you [have] no regrets about making the decision, you felt it was the right thing to do?”<\/p>\n Prue explained: “It was the right thing to do, because I’m getting on and I haven’t much time left. I suddenly realised I will never again have a summer holiday in Europe. I’ll never be able to go to France or Italy or Greece or Spain, because I’d be filming.<\/p>\n “I just thought, ‘I want to do that.’ Of course, I could have holidays in the winter. You could go to South Africa, cause I’m South African, so I love the sun. But I wanted a European holiday. So, this year, I’m going to take the whole family to France for a week. I could never do that before.”<\/p>\n Lorraine observed: “There’s also that thing, Prue, that you’re going loving it. You’re actually going out on a high. You still love it.”<\/p>\n The star appeared on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n