Prue Leith on business, TV and life at 86

A photograph from the year she won businesswoman of the year captures a moment of triumph: popping champagne, buying an expensive gold necklace on impulse and favouring kaftans and long dresses at home so she could avoid stockings and tight garments. Her husband, John Playfair, once told her the first thing that attracted him was a bright orange sweater; she says she has always liked colour, and has grown braver with age.

At the height of that period she ran a Michelin-starred restaurant, a successful catering company and a cookery school, while also being a mother. Her son Danny was surprised to learn she truly owned those businesses, saying, “Mum, you don’t own all these businesses and have all these people working for you, do you?” She kept her weekends clear and the family often had no idea what was happening for her professionally.

School was more turbulent.

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