Restauranteur and food campaigner Prue Leith is set to take Mary Berry’s place on the iconic Great British Bake Off, as it moves to Channel 4 for the new season.
Berry, who was the programme’s original judge, chose to stay with the BBC after the show’s producers signed a £25 million per year deal which would see it move to Channel 4. 81-year old Berry was synonymous with the programme for many British viewers, leaving the producers with the difficult task of selecting a new judge.
However, according to The Telegraph, Berry looks set to be replaced by 76-year old Prue Leith, who has been seen as a “like-for-like” candidate. Leith has already served as a judge on similar show The Great British Menu, with a source telling The Sun that “In cookery circles, she’s practically royalty”.
The source continued: “Both are from similar backgrounds, so hopefully viewers will be accepting and give Prue a chance to win them over.
“Following in Mary’s footsteps is a big challenge. But the producers are confident that Prue has all the attributes.”
This comes after an interview with the Daily Telegraph in which she said she had no intention of joining the show as it moved to Channel 4:
“I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about, really. I was more concerned about Brangelina,” she said after it emerged that neither of the Great British Bake Off’s two presenters, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, would be staying for the new season.
Channel 4 have refused to confirm the decision to hire Leith, saying only that the entire line-up will be revealed in time.