Prue Leith, 86, says she ‘doesn’t have long left’ and ‘thinks about death a lot’ after quitting Great British Bake Off

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In a recent interview on Friday, Prue Leith shared that she finds a sense of peace in acknowledging her mortality and often thinks about death.

As someone who’s seen a lot of changes over the years, and having just announced my departure from The Great British Bake Off after a wonderful run, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what comes next. Retirement isn’t about stopping, it’s about shifting gears and embracing a new chapter. It’s a really exciting time, honestly!

Prue shared that she’s always enjoyed working, and while she’s excited about hosting a new travel show after leaving the program, she’s also looking forward to relaxing and enjoying her life more.

In a recent interview, she shared that she often thinks about death and imagines what it will be like. She found it amusing that she, despite being relatively young, spends so much time considering something she associates with older people.

Growing old is a surprising experience, and I’m amazed to be at this stage of life. Many see old age as something sad, but truthfully, for most people it’s not dramatically different from any other part of life.

Prue thinks either artificial intelligence or war will ultimately cause humanity’s downfall, but she’s not worried about it personally, as she doesn’t expect to live to see it happen.

You know, as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about making the most of life, I really connected with something I recently read. This woman was talking about facing a limited timeframe – she estimated around ten years, if she’s lucky – and it struck me how peaceful she seemed about it. It wasn’t about sadness, but a real sense of purpose. She said it was comforting to know she didn’t have to worry about the distant future, and that she just wanted to use the time she does have well. It’s a beautiful reminder for all of us to focus on what truly matters now.

Prue is starting a new adventure! She’s traveled back to her home country, South Africa, to film a travel show.

The popular TV chef revealed she was leaving Bake Off last month, explaining she wanted to focus on a better work-life balance and pursue more personal interests.

Sandi Toksvig, a well-known former host of the Great British Bake Off, will be joining her on this new project. She left the show in 2020 after hosting for three years.

A source told The Sun that the two women became close friends while working on Bake Off.

Even though Sandi left the show six years ago, they’ve stayed good friends and have often discussed collaborating on more television projects.

Leaving Bake Off allowed Prue to finally pursue other projects she’d been putting off.

Sandi Toksvig, who co-hosted the comedy quiz show QI with Noel Fielding starting in 2017, stepped down and was initially replaced by Matt Lucas. Lucas left the show in 2022, and Alison Hammond then took over as host.

Since leaving the show, Prue has been busy – the new travel series she’s working on has reportedly already been filmed and is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year.

Oh my gosh, I’m already counting down the days! It’s probably going to be released around the same time as the new season of Bake Off in August, and get this – Nigella Lawson is joining Paul Hollywood as a judge! Can you believe it? Prue Leith leaving was sad, but Nigella?! It’s a dream come true!

Nigella Lawson, age 66, has been confirmed as a judge for the upcoming season of the show. She’ll join Paul as filming begins in April, with the new episodes expected to air later this year.

Prue recently shared that she’s leaving the Channel 4 show after considering the decision for some time. She wants to have more free time during the summer months and focus on other work during the winter.

She told The Spectator that she’s been unsure for years about when to leave her role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.

When I started nine years ago, I was in my mid-seventies and honestly expected to only last a couple of years.

When my mother reached that age, she experienced significant cognitive decline. She mistakenly believed her son was her father and insisted her cat was a person from her past – someone she hadn’t seen in forty years.

I remained relatively stable, and I had no compelling reason to leave a job I truly enjoyed.

Eventually, I realized I wanted a better work-life balance. Because ‘The Great British Bake Off’ and its related shows, like ‘The Great American Baking Show’ and the Christmas specials, are all filmed during the summer, I was never able to take a summer vacation.

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2026-02-28 00:04