Prue Leith slams cookery shows

7 March 2017

Prue Leith is "not interested" in "cheap" cookery shows.

Prue Leith

The 76-year-old restaurateur has made no secret of the fact she'd love nothing more than to bag the judging role on 'Great British Bake Off' following her rival Mary Berry's shock departure last year, but it looks like her chances of securing the job have been slashed after she slammed the format of those type of programmes in 2012.

She told the Daily Express newspaper at the time: "Of course there are [too many cookery shows on television. I only watch them very occasionally and I'm frankly not interested in them. Cookery shows are like wallpaper on TV. They are very cheap to produce so everybody does them."

Prue - who has appeared as a judge on 'Great British Menu' since 2006 - has reportedly inked a six-figure deal to work alongside Paul Hollywood on the revamped version of 'GBBO' when it returns to screens on Channel 4 later this year.

A source said: "The deal has taken its time to iron out the details, but it has now been signed and Prue is going to be on the show. We think her and Paul will be another winning combination. Prue is excited about the show and can't wait to get started."

And she's not the only new face to grace screens when the popular show, which first aired on BBC Two in 2010 and remained with the broadcaster for six years, shifts channels in a few months' time as bosses are also looking for a replacement for previous hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins - but it's proving a difficult task.

The 'Great British Bake Off' hit the headlines in September when it was announced that Love Productions - the makers of the series - had chosen to accept a three-year deal from Channel 4 after negotiations between them and the BBC broke down because they weren't willing to offer a large enough sum.

Within hours of the news breaking, Mel and Sue - who have fronted the programme since it first hit screens six years ago - revealed they had quit their roles as hosts in order to explore other ventures.

A few days later, Mary decided she too would step down as a judge on the show out of "loyalty" to the BBC, while Paul, 50, caused a storm when he accepted Channel 4's offer to remain with the series.