Prue Leith to step down from Great British Bake Off

On Jan. 21, 2026, Prue Leith, one of the judges of "The Great British Bake Off," said she was leaving the television show after nine seasons and more than 400 challenges.

In an Instagram post she wrote, "Now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!)" and added, "There’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden." She called the show a "fabulous part of my life" and said she would miss working with fellow judges and presenters Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

Ms. Leith joined "Bake Off" in 2017. Before that she had been a judge on the BBC's "Great British Menu" and Channel 4's "My Kitchen Rules," and she has worked as a restaurateur and caterer and founded a cooking school. She said, "Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have," and that she felt "very lucky to have been part of it."

Key Topics

Culture, Prue Leith, Bake Off, Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond