GBBO's Prue Leith issues blunt response to husband's fear of being outlived
Dame Prue Leith, the culinary legend from Great British Bake Off, has shared her husband's fears of adopting a new dog that might outlive him. The restaurateur and baking sensation has become a familiar face on our screens through her various TV stints.
The 85-year-old is perhaps best known for her stint as a judge on Channel 4's Great British Bake Off, where she joins Paul Hollywood at the judging table. In her personal life, Dame Prue is married to John Playfair, whom she met at a dinner party in Yorkshire, following the death of her first husband Rayne Kruger.
The couple tied the knot in 2016, and while they share a loving home with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, they're in discussions about whether or not they should add another furry friend to the mix.
John voiced his concern that any new pet might outlive him, but Dame Prue has been having none of it, reportedly dismissing his apprehension with a firm: "What nonsense", when she spoke to the Times.
In addition to this, the expert baker has been frank about her own age, expressing on the Travel Diaries podcast: "I haven't got much longer, I'm 85, I want to spend as much time as I can with him."
The Bake Off judge has also discussed the dynamics of her relationship, praising her husband's down-to-earth nature.
She said: "One of the wonderful things about him is that he is totally without ego, he doesn't feel threatened by the fact that I have a higher profile than he does, when I introduce him (to people) he always just says, 'I'm the handbag carrier, I'm her chauffeur'."
Her journey in the culinary world began at the age of just 20 when she trained at the Cordon Bleu Cookery School. This led to an impressive career that includes launching her own restaurant.
Dame Prue later joined The Great British Bake Off in 2017, when she replaced Dame Mary Berry. Eight years on, and she's started to talk about life after the popular baking programme.
Speaking to the Mail On Sunday earlier this year, she admitted that she would take part in the 2025 edition, but didn't know if she would be around in future seasons.
She explained: "I'm doing this year's Bake Off, and I don't know if this will be my last. I've got to stop some time, so I might stop next year. I thought I'd just see how I go this year, because I definitely feel a bit older this year than I did last year.
"Things like getting out of a chair takes me longer than it used to. I don't like big steps without a handrail. None of these things worried me two years ago – I could run upstairs – and so I'm very keen to leave Bake Off before I'm asked to leave."
Dame Prue has also graced screens on some of the nation's most cherished shows, including The Great British Menu and Prue's Cotswold Kitchen.
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