Prue Leith Reacts To Sandi Toksvig’s Bold Admission About Why She Left Great British Bake Off

Posted on 06/02/2024 by Boris Clair

Prue Leith has responded to Sandi Toksvig’s recent claims about what led to her resigning from the Great British Bake Off.

Both Prue and Sandi were new additions to the Bake Off family when the show made the jump to Channel 4 in 2017, and while the former still remains a judge on the show, the latter stepped down as a presenter after three seasons.

Last month, the QI host made headlines when she claimed that her time on Bake Off came to an end because she “stopped having fun”.

“I was literally standing there watching meringues dry and thinking, ‘Oh my God, my brain is atrophying’,” she claimed.

During an interview on Times Radio on Tuesday, Prue was asked what she thought of Sandi’s comments, to which she admitted they didn’t correspond to her memories of working with the comedian.

“I don’t think Sandi was [that] bored,” Prue said. “She and I shared a wonderful green room in this posh house, which was where we filmed Bake Off, which was in the library.

“And so we had this wonderful selection of books, and she would [knit] little figures. So she made lots of those. She wrote a few scripts. She did a lot of other things.”

Sandi with her former Bake Off colleagues Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding

Prue added: “I mean, I can see that for some people as clever as Sandy watching meringue dry is perhaps a bit heavy, but I think she just liked the joke. I don’t think she was really bored.”

Sandi previously told Radio Times: “After three years, I thought, ‘That’ll do, go and do something else!’” I’m in love enough with the business to think, ‘OK, that’s a nice pay cheque, but it doesn’t work for me. I’ll move on and do something else’.”

Back in 2020, long-standing Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood claimed he’d been left “surprised” and “really upset” by Sandi’s exit.

“I’m very fond of Sandi. She was never too busy to sit down, have a chat and put the world to rights. We shared a couple of drinks and had some good times together,” he said at the time.

Sandi was replaced by Matt Lucas, who fronted three seasons before announcing he, too, was leaving. Daytime favourite Alison Hammond then made her debut at the helm of Bake Off last year, and is set to return in 2024.

The Great British Bake Off Is Back This Autumn – Here’s What We Know So Far

Posted on 05/08/2023 by Boris Clair

Yes, it’s technically summertime, but the weather has been feeling distinctly autumnal of late, meaning that our thoughts have started turning towards the next season’s TV schedule.

September means the return of many of our favourite reality shows, from Strictly Come Dancing to the brand new season of The Great British Bake Off.

This time around, there’s been a slight shake up in the Bake Off tent, with a brand new presenter on board following Matt Lucas’ departure at the end of last year.

Here’s what we know so far about season 14 of the Bake Off…

Who will be hosting the new season?

After a stint in the Bake Off tent during the third season of the show’s celebrity spin-off for Stand Up To Cancer, Alison Hammond will be joining Noel Fielding as a GBBO host.

She’ll be taking over from Matt Lucas, who announced he’d be leaving the show back in December in order to focus on other ventures, including writing a new project with his Little Britain co-creator David Walliams.

Alison’s new gig was confirmed earlier this year, when she shared a short video on Instagram, showing her and her new colleagues in cake form. “It’s official!!” she wrote in the caption, adding: “Let’s have it – the cake that is.”

“Alison is much loved, effortlessly funny and the owner of the best laugh in Britain,” Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz said when the news was announced. “She was a huge hit when she appeared on Celebrity Bake Off and we’re thrilled to have her back in the tent.”

We’ve already seen Alison bring the laughs to This Morning (remember when she even managed to make notorious grump Harrison Ford get the giggles?), so we can’t wait to see what she makes of her new role.

Alison Hammond is Bake Off's new co-host — Alison Hammond is Bake Off’s new co-host

And who will be judging?

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be back on the show, providing their expert opinion on the contestants’ bakes and making tough decisions about which amateur baker to eliminate from the competition each week.

It’s Prue’s seventh season on the show, after replacing Mary Berry when the Bake Off jumped ships from the BBC to Channel 4; Paul, meanwhile, has appeared in every season to date.

When will The Great British Bake Off 2023 be on TV?

Channel 4 are yet to confirm an exact start date for the show, but we can certainly make an educated guess based on previous years.

The Bake Off tends to be filmed over the summer, and each 10 episode season usually begins in the middle of September, typically airing on a Tuesday evening. The final then takes place towards the end of November.

As well as watching on the night on Channel 4 (to avoid spoilers, of course) you’ll also be able to catch up on the broadcaster’s streaming site; plus, each series usually airs on Netflix in the US (where it’s known as The Great British Baking Show).

Who will be taking part?

Details of this year’s contestants are under wraps for now, but each season typically features a line-up of 12 skilled bakers of all ages, with different specialisms in the kitchen. Channel 4 tends to release information about new GBBO hopefuls at the start of September, a couple of weeks before the first episode, so keep your eyes peeled.

Is there a trailer for The Great British Bake Off 2023?

Not yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated as soon as the first teaser clip drops.

The Stars Of Bake Off As Are Just As Excited About Alison Hammond’s New Role As The Rest Of Us

Posted on 18/03/2023 by Boris Clair

Alison’s new co-stars reacted to the announcement on a video she shared on social media.

Noel, who has hosted the show since it moved to Channel 4 from BBC One in 2018, said: “Congratulations and Welcome to the tent lovely !! We are gonna have an absolute blast together. I can’t wait. I’m buzzing. Two naughty kids together 🙂 x x x.x

“The bakers will love you,” he added.

Judge Prue Leith wrote: “Huge congratulations Alison, you will be magnificent and I can’t wait for your infectious laugh to be ringing through the tent.”

Fellow judge Paul Hollywood said: “See you on the tent. Welcome xx [sic].”

Alison was also flooded with congratulatory messages from other celebrity friends and fans.

Her This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby said: “This is the greatest news babe!!!! Congratulations and save me a slice!!!!”

Alexandra Burke added: “Forever proud of you!!!!!! Congrats darling xx.”

Alison said she was “absolutely thrilled” to be joining the team.

Bake Off was originally hosted by Mel and Sue during its original BBC incarnation, with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig taking over when the show made the jump to Channel 4.

Sandi stepped down as host in 2019, with Matt taking over as Noel’s co-host in 2020.

The Great British Bake Off will return to Channel 4 in the autumn.

Prue Leith Addresses Response To ‘Traumatic’ Kitten Drowning Admission From Memoir

Posted on 12/11/2022 by Boris Clair

Prue Leith has addressed the response to a “traumatic” story in her autobiography, in which she admitted to drowning a litter of kittens as a child on the instructions of her mother.

The Great British Bake Off judge had written of how she was plagued by the memory of her mum forcing her to kill the bag of newborn cats just hours after their birth when she was just 11-years-old.

As a result of her sharing the story, some people called for Prue to be removed as a judge from Bake Off, with her now revealing how the criticism affected her in an interview with People.

Sharing that she felt like “public enemy No.1”, Prue said: “They don’t read the story and they feed off each other. Somebody says, ‘My God! That woman drowns kittens!’ And it just spiralled from there.

“I can’t bear the thought that people on Twitter really think that I would want to drown kittens.”

She continued: “It was so awful because people were saying things like, ‘I’ll never watch Bake Off again.’ I mean, what’s it got to do with Bake Off? Bake Off is the kindest, most inclusive, most friendly show in the world. They wouldn’t have me on if they thought I was a kitten drowner.”

Prue had written in her memoir I’ll Try Anything Once: “My mother and I, then 11, had just drowned some kittens… and for weeks I imagined those poor dead creatures.

“Too many kittens was a frequent occurrence and there had come a day when my mother, unable to find homes for yet another litter, decided to drown the latest batch.”

Prue said she tried to persuade her mother against it, but her protests “were met with a firm, ‘Darling, it has to be done. They are only a few hours old. They will hardly know it’s happening’”.

Despite her mother’s assurances, the TV personality said the kittens “fought like the devil for life”.

Prue has been a judge on Bake Off since 2017

Prue previously explained to HuffPost why she decided to include this story in her new memoir.

“This happened in the early 1940′s, when I was 11 years old, being brought up on a farm in South Africa,” she wrote in an emailed statement.

“I wrote about it honestly in my book, as an 11 year old it was an extremely traumatic experience, not one I would forget, however it is what happened 70 years ago.”

She also advocated neutering and spaying pets.

“Thankfully today in the UK we have the choice of neutering our cats and have more options to home kittens, although sadly in some parts of the world it is still an issue.”

‘Pity I’m Not The One Who Gives Out Handshakes’: Prue Leith Is All Of Us

Posted on 17/11/2021 by Boris Clair

Warning: this article contains spoilers for the GBBO 2021 semi-final.

It was a heart-wrenching moment when Jürgen Krauss, possibly the best-loved contestant in Great British Bake Off history, presented his semi-final signature bake to the judges.

Paul Hollywood declared “I like it, but I don’t love it” and declined to give Jürgen one of his famed “Hollywood handshakes”, when the other three contestants each received one.

Jürgen looked towards Prue for redemption and thankfully, she loved the bake. But alas, it seems her opinion wasn’t enough.

“It’s a pity I’m not the one who gives out handshakes,” lamented Prue – while women watching the TV screamed in unison: “Why not!?”

Paul’s handshakes started as a bit of fun, where, back in the Mary Berry days of season three, he whipped out his palm to congratulate contestant Ryan Chong for some stellar sweet dough.

But the shakes have since morphed into something so much more – a symbol of success that’s almost as coveted as the “star baker” title.

In what was a close-knit episode – with the contestants almost impossible to separate – many on social media have speculated that Paul’s lack of handshake was the final nail in the coffin for Jürgen, who was voted off ahead of the final.

Women have also questiond why Paul’s handshake holds so much power – and suggested it’s just another example of a man’s opinion being held in higher esteem than a woman’s.

When are we going to stop pretending Prue doesn’t have more experience in her little finger than her male co-star & end this handshake nonsense? #GBBO

— Charlotte Ledger (@girl_on_a_ledge) November 16, 2021

Prue saying “pity I’m not the one giving out handshakes” makes me wonder if the producers are content with normalising and reinforcing gendered divisions & (toxic) masculine dominance in professional cooking spaces…#GBBO

— Helen Rooney (@wandher_lust) November 16, 2021

I’m not clutching at straws here. There’s a definite division between the male and female presenter here (e.g. the notion of a “harsh” male judge and a “sweeter, kinder” female judge).

Why can’t Prue give out handshakes or the equivalent? Why would that not be as meaningful?

— Helen Rooney (@wandher_lust) November 16, 2021

This is patriarchy at its worst. Piss off Paul! Women’s handshakes count just as much as men’s and Prue has far more experience than Paul. NOT happy! #justiceforjurgen #GBBO

— Chloe Delaney (@drchloe_2000) November 16, 2021

Woken up still angry about Bake Off. If ever there was a time for a “Shantay, you all stay” moment.

Also, why do Paul’s handshakes hold more weight than Prue’s opinions? She should have elbowed him out of the way and offered Juergen a fist bump or a hair ruffle or something.

— Lisa Holdsworth (@WorksWithWords) November 17, 2021

Beware of the Paul Handshake in your workplace. It’s where a man who is technically equal to a woman invents his own award system, and over time giving out and holding back the award subtly manoeuvres himself into a position of more authority. Flans look nice though!!🎂 🍰 🧁

— Liz Kingsman (@lizkingsman) November 16, 2021

It’s absurd that a “Hollywood Handshake” is the pinnacle of baking success. His opinion is not worth more than Prue’s (nor Mary before her). #GBBO

— Hayley Still (@Hayley_Still) November 16, 2021

i need prue to create her own handshake because it’s upsetting seeing people fight for a man’s acceptance like this ✊🏻😔 #GBBO

— hannah (@hannachoes) November 16, 2021

I’ve never watched bake off before so this is my first series but that handshake thing is very very weird! Why did that ridiculous woman nearly collapse because a man shook her hand? Is Prue’s opinion irrelevant? It was a bit embarrassing! Has equality reversed 50 years. 😝

— Marianne (@cherriesinapie) November 16, 2021

Of course, we mustn’t forget that this is a light-hearted baking show, and the contestants clearly do adore being recognised for their hard work with Hollywood’s extended hand.

Still, the unequal power dynamic between Paul and Prue is increasingly hard to ignore – and reminds us of every time an experienced woman has been overlooked in the workplace in favour of a confident man.

We’d like to petition for Prue to have her own handshake – the ‘Prue Pat’, as some on social media have called it. Or, as others have suggested, she could bestow her signature necklace on successful bakers like a medal, instead.

Now, that’s a prize we’d truly appreciate.

Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021: All The Celebrities Who’ve Been Recognised

Posted on 11/06/2021 by Boris Clair

The full list of stars on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list has been revealed, with Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith, football hero Raheem Sterling and TV personality Robert Rinder among those who have been recognised.

Receiving the top honours of a damehood are Bake Off star Prue and former Strictly Come Dancing judge and legendary choreographer Arlene Phillips.

Musical theatre star and Oscar-nominated actor Jonathan Pryce is also set to receive a knighthood – ahead of his debut as Prince Philip in the fifth series of the royal Netflix drama The Crown.

Prue Leith, Arlene Phillips and Jonathan Pryce

Footballer Raheem Sterling is set to receive an MBE this year, for his work to promote racial equality in sport, with his England teammate Jordan Henderson also getting the same honour.

Also receiving MBEs are TV personality Robert Rinder – who has made the list alongside his mum, Angela Cohen – radio presenter Simon Mayo, actor Ruth Wilson and singers Alison Moyet and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Raheem Sterling, Robert Rinder and Alison Moyet

Several public figures will also receive CBEs, including TV presenter Sue Barker and singer Lulu.

Artist Edmund de Waal, Yes musician Rick Wakeman and former England manager Roy Hodgson are also among those who have been awarded CBEs.

It’s also been confirmed that rock singer Skin and children’s author David Almond will receive OBEs.

As well as public figures and celebrities, it’s also been noted that those who came together to prepare thousands of meals for key workers during the pandemic have been rewarded for their efforts in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Members of the scientific community have also been recognised for pulling together to combat coronavirus.

It’s been reported that this year’s Birthday Honours list is the most diverse to date, both in terms of gender and race.

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