Dame Prue Leith has announced she is stepping down from The Great British Bake Off after nine years as a judge on the hit programme.
The 85-year-old culinary expert joined the show in 2017, replacing Mary Berry following the series’ move to Channel 4.
Ms Leith has judged alongside Paul Hollywood, with the pair currently appearing on the programme alongside presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Announcing her decision, Ms Leith said stepping away from the iconic white tent now “feels like the right time”, explaining she would like to spend her summers enjoying her garden rather than filming.
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Ms Leith has judged alongside Paul Hollywood
|“Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years,” she said. “I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel, and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.
“But now feels like the right time to step back, I’m 86 for goodness sake! There’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.”
Ms Leith also shared her support for whoever succeeds her, adding: “Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.”
Love Productions, which makes the programme, paid tribute to Ms Leith’s contribution, praising both her culinary expertise and her light-hearted presence.
Leith said stepping away from the iconic white tent now “feels like the right time”
|The company said: “From her genuine expertise and encouragement of the bakers to her ability to drop innocent innuendos that reduce the entire tent, and viewers at home, to tears of laughter, Prue will always have a piece of Bake Off’s heart."
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz also hailed Leith as “a joyous presence in the tent”, saying she combined “absolute culinary authority with great generosity and empathy for the bakers”.
“We are grateful for her passion, her wit, her ineffable style, and all the summers she spent in the tent,” Ms Katz said, adding that she leaves “an indelible mark on the show and all its bakers”.
No announcement has yet been made about who will replace Ms Leith as a judge.
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Bake Off's official Instagram page shared the news with the caption: "Our wonderful Prue has decided to step away from judging Bake Off.
"From joyful judging to colourful fits to accidental innuendoes, you are simply the best and will be so missed. Please join us in wishing Prue the very best and thanking her for nine brilliant years in the Tent."
Stars and fans flooded the comments to share their sadness following the chef’s departure from The Great British Bake Off.
Rahul Mandal, who won the show in 2018 and the New Year’s Bake Off in 2021, wrote: “Awww Prue, we will miss you so much on our screen. We adored you — you are kind, passionate and, above all, inspiring. You challenged yourself at every step of your life, which inspired us. I always want my daughter to be as bold and brave like you.”
Ms Leith said she will miss working with her fellow judges
|Jasmine Mitchell, winner of the 2025 series, added: “Awwww Prue, we will really miss you so much. You are just wonderful and incredible.”
Fans also shared emotional reactions, with one writing: “Prue will be missed, but it’s understandable to want to step down. Enjoy your summer, Prue!”
Another commented: “It’s been nine years?! Time flies… I will miss you, Prue. Best of luck going forward!”
Others were more emotional, with one fan joking: “I’m glad for her, but my mental health is not stable enough for this announcement right now.”
No announcement has yet been made about who will replace Ms Leith as a judge
|Another simply wrote: “Heartbreaking. We will miss you so much.”
The next series of The Great British Bake Off is due to air on Channel 4 later this year, though it remains unclear whether a new judge will be in place by then.
Ms Leith had already stepped back from the celebrity edition of the show in 2024, with her role temporarily filled by Lady Caroline Waldegrave, after admitting that filming multiple series each year had become increasingly demanding alongside her other professional commitments.