Latest news with #CotswoldKitchen
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
GBBO's Dame Prue Leith makes 'not good' comment in fresh family admission
GBBO's Dame Prue Leith makes 'not good' comment in fresh family admission The Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith has opened up about her life away from the spotlight of her TV career, sharing a rare admission about her family Dame Prue made a rare family admission saying 'I'm not good' (Image: PA ) Dame Prue Leith, the esteemed Great British Bake Off judge, has shared a candid revelation about her family life, confessing, "I'm not good" when it comes to certain family matters. While Dame Prue regularly welcomes viewers into her home via her Cotswold Kitchen programme, sharing culinary wisdom, lately the 85-year-old cooking legend has been more open about her personal life beyond the kitchen. During a heartfelt exchange on The Travel Diaries podcast earlier in the year with Holly Rubenstein, she expressed her desire to cherish every moment with her husband, John Playfair, saying, "I haven't got much longer, I'm 85. I want to spend as much time as I can with him." Still, despite her intentions to seize every precious moment with her husband John, Dame Prue has recently acknowledged her shortcomings in another part of her family life. Prue and her husband John can often be seen on Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen together (Image: Lia Toby, WireImagevia Getty Images ) Speaking to The Observer magazine, she elaborated on these personal admissions by stating, "I adore my grandchildren, but I'm not a good granny. I have to be reminded about their birthdays, otherwise I'll forget." Article continues below Her challenges with remembering significant dates were previously highlighted in a MailOnline interview, where she admitted, "I don't think I have ever remembered a grandchild's birthday. This is not a proud boast—I am ashamed of it. In my defence—can this be a defence?—I seldom remembered—or remember—my own children's birthdays, or my husband's either. Or our wedding anniversary. Or Father's Day." She has previously shared how she frequently forgets key dates in the calendar (Image: Getty Images ) Dame Prue, who needs reminders about her grandchildren's birthdays, has two children from her first marriage to Rayne Kruger, which lasted from 1974 until his passing in 2002. Her son, Danny Kruger, is a father of three, while her daughter, Li-Da Kruger, has one child. In addition to her family life, Dame Prue has reached the pinnacle of her profession in recent years. She is most recognised for her role on The Great British Bake Off, where she judges alongside Paul Hollywood. Before succeeding Dame Mary Berry as judge on the baking competition nearly a decade ago, Dame Prue was already a prominent figure in the culinary world, having published her own cookery books and made numerous TV appearances. Dame Prue is best known for her role on the Great British Bake Off (Image: Ki Price, Getty Images ) Article continues below After learning the skills of the trade in her early twenties, she proceeded to open her own restaurant, Leith's, which was later awarded a Michelin star. More recently, she has been accompanied by John Playfair in Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen, where they invite fellow celebrities to their Cotswold home to sample her latest culinary creations. In the most recent series of the show, we have seen the likes of Alison Hammond, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, and Ellie Simmonds make appearances.
Wales Online
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
GBBO's Prue Leith addresses 'mistake' during marriage as she admits 'I should've listened'
GBBO's Prue Leith addresses 'mistake' during marriage as she admits 'I should've listened' Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith opened up about a piece of advice she wished she had listened to in her first marriage with Rayne Kruger, as she reflected on a financial error Dame Prue admits she "lost money" as she opens up on a "mistake" (Image: PA ) The Great British Bake Off star Dame Prue Leith has opened up about a "mistake" she made in her first marriage, as she admits, "I should have listened". In recent years, Prue has become known as a judge on the popular baking show, but it was long before she made her debut on the Channel 4 show that she began to lay the foundations, for what has been a hugely impressive career in the culinary world to date. Rewinding back to the early 1960s when the 85-year-old was in her early 20s, she recalled swapping England for France, where she took big steps into the world of cooking. At the highly-prestigious Cordon Bleu Cookery School in Paris, she learned the skills of the trade and since then, her career has mostly been on a high. Dame Prue opened her first restaurant in the 1960s (Image: Getty Images ) Opening up her first restaurant, Leith's, in 1969 led to great success as proven by her Michelin star status. She went on to land an agreement to head up the catering branch of the Serpentine Gallery, located in Kensington Gardens, London. Article continues below Recently commenting on her finances, she told the Observer magazine how her decisions about money haven't always worked in her favour. During her first marriage to Rayne Kruger, Prue claimed he warned her that starting the venture was a "mistake". Looking back, she said: "Neither of my husbands have been intimidated by my success. My first would say when he thought I was making a mistake, like taking on the Serpentine restaurant in the middle of Kensington Gardens. She has since re-married after the passing of her first husband in 2002 (Image: Getty Images ) "I had visions of Chablis and smoked salmon, but what customers wanted was a burger. We lost money hand over fist. I should have listened." Prue's first marriage, which produced her son, Danny Kruger, lasted 28 years after Rayne passed away in 2002. Since then, the baker has gone on to marry her second spouse, former fashion designer, John Playfair, who has recently been starring alongside her in Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen. While her time at the Serpentine didn't turn out as planned, no one can doubt her huge career success since then. Having appeared in a few TV shows previously, it was in 2017 that she took over the reins from Dame Mary Berry, to join Paul Hollywood in hosting the Great British Bake Off. She recently stepped back from the celebrity version of GBBO (Image: Getty Images ) Having remained on the show ever since, fans of the programme were left surprised earlier this year to see that she was absent from the celebrity edition of the show, which saw Good Morning Britain presenter, Kate Garraway crowned the winner. Article continues below However, she later clarified that the decision to step back had come as a result of wanting more time off due to the busy filming schedule. Prue also confirmed that she will remain as a judge on the non-celebrity version of the show.
Wales Online
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Bake Off's Prue Leith had 'operation on her dining room table' after developing health issue
Bake Off's Prue Leith had 'operation on her dining room table' after developing health issue The Great British Bake Off judge will be returning to TV screens this morning (May 3) with Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen, where she will be making chocolate roulade and tarte tatin Prue Leith underwent an operation on her dining room table as a child (Image: Channel 4 ) Dame Prue Leith has candidly shared her experience with a health issue as a child that resulted in her "having an operation" on the dining room table. Prue, 85, was just six when she had developed an abscess - puss-filled lump - in her ear. Medics told Prue's mother Margaret that she would need to go to hospital. However, expectant mother Margaret was carrying Prue's younger brother James at the time. On the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth, Prue explained her mum feared the children would be split up if she was taken to hospital as James was being born. With no other choice, the doctor was convinced to perform the procedure to remove the abscess at the family home, reports Gloucestershire Live. Meanwhile Margaret gave birth to James in another room. Prue said: "I'm rather ashamed of the fact that my first memory was when I was six years old. Most people can remember when they were two or four, but I can't. Prue says her first memory is having an operation (Image: ITV ) Article continues below "But it's very clear, I was having an operation on my ear, because I had an abscess in my ear, on the kitchen table while my mother was giving birth to my younger brother. "What happened was the doctor said, 'She has to go to hospital to have this ear thing lanced or whatever'. And my mum said, 'No, I can't do that because I might have the baby on the same day and I can't be separated from my children'. "So she persuaded the doctor, in those days you could do things like this, persuade the doctor, to do the operation on our dining room table. And she had James in the bedroom." After being administered anaesthesia for the procedure, Prue recalled that upon regaining consciousness, her nanny inquired if she wanted to see her newborn, James. Instead, Prue jokingly requested a banana - a comment she now views as "quite prophetic". Prue became a judge on the Great British Bake Off in 2017, joining forces with Paul Hollywood, following Mary Berry's departure from the show. Born in South Africa, Prue embarked on her culinary journey at the prestigious Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London. Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen returns to screens this morning (Image: PA ) Article continues below Her career flourished as she managed a successful catering business and operated a Michelin-starred restaurant. In 1975, she established Leith's School of Food and Wine, a renowned institution offering professional chef training and cooking classes for enthusiasts. The star will return to screens tonight (May 3) with Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen. The programme will be on ITV One from 11.40am. In the upcoming episode, pastry chef Ravneet Gill will join Prue to create a decadent chocolate roulade and discuss her involvement with Counter Talk, an initiative focused on enhancing working conditions in kitchens. Prue will also share a unique savoury take on the classic tarte tatin.
Telegraph
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Prue Leith: People keep asking if the next Bake Off will be my last – probably because I'm so old
How do famous names spend their precious downtime? In our weekly My Saturday column, celebrities reveal their weekend virtues and vices. This week: Prue Leith 8am My husband John is naughty because he'll bring me tea and yogurt and I'll be furious because I won't be able to resist eating it. I don't usually have breakfast as it's about the only food I can resist and I have a problem keeping my weight remotely down. When I'm filming my Cotswold Kitchen series at home, I'm woken by Bambi, my makeup artist, banging on my door. 9am I choose the necklace or specs first and the outfit around that. I've got necklaces on a wall hanging up so I can see them – it's all cheap stuff, never gold. I enjoy putting my clothes together, but John buys them all. I hate shopping. 10am We've got a new potting shed and greenhouse and I'm thrilled. It's full of plants I had in childhood in South Africa, like bright bougainvillaea. I like propagating because my back hurts and I can do it on a high stool. I'm not as hands-on as I'd like because I'm no longer able to be. I find it vaguely surprising I can't do certain things any longer. 12pm We go for a jaunt. It's a pretty drive to the Vegetable Matters farm shop where, if you buy a cabbage, it's been picked that morning. For lunch, the Ebrington Arms near Chipping Campden does great steak and chips. 2pm I have a singing lesson. I can't tell you how wildly out of my comfort zone The Masked Singer was [Prue was in the latest series], but I wanted to learn to sing. The first time I had to rehearse as Pegasus, I sang without the costume and I can't say I was doing dance moves, but at least I was moving around the stage. Then, when I had the horse's head on, I couldn't move or hear the director telling me when to come in, so I just stood there looking like an idiot. I still don't know if I'm in tune, but at least I can make a noise now and I'm confident enough to try. 3pm Since Covid, I've been having a siesta. I've got my husband addicted to it too, so we're two old codgers having a nice kip in the afternoon. 5pm John loves shopping for children's toys, dangerous things like quad bikes and Segways. We have to make the grandchildren wear helmets, and they go bombing around the garden. We have 11 between us. John's youngest is nine months, the eldest is 16, nearly all boys. I'm very conscious I have an amazingly lucky, happy life. There's no reason to be unhappy. 6pm I love teaching the kids to bake cakes, like I do on Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen (Saturdays, 11.45am, ITV1 and ITVX). Everything happens in real time on that show, we never refilm anything – if I make a cock-up it is just, 'Oh dear, never mind, let's stick it together with cream.' Paul [Hollywood] and I are about to go through the challenges for the next series of Bake Off as well. People keep asking if it will be my last – I suppose because I'm so old so it's a reasonable question. I ask it myself. 7pm I cook everything we eat. John says he lives on leftovers, which is sort of true, because I can never throw anything away, but it wouldn't be a leftover if I didn't do some primary cooking. We'll have sausages and parsnip mash with skirlie, pinhead oatmeal fried with onions – so bad for you, full of butter – with sprout tops that look like tiny cabbages. God, they're delicious. 9pm Sometimes we have to say to each other, 'We cannot go to bed yet, it's only nine o'clock.' But it's very tempting. The fatal thing is, we don't turn the damn light out until midnight. John reads antique magazines and I read The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk. I've been at it for two months now because it's so huge.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prue Leith addresses 'maddening' issue with husband as she steps back from Bake Off
Prue Leith is taking a break from The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer this year, but fans can still catch the TV chef on her own ITV show, Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen, alongside her husband, John Playfair. Dame Prue has now addressed the ups and downs of working with retired fashion designer John, admitting to The Sun's TV Mag that the experience can be a "maddening" one. Comparing filming together to sharing their home, Prue revealed: 'It's just like living with him – sometimes he's maddening, but mostly he's lovely." READ MORE: Mark Wright 'fights tears' as breaks silence on birth of daughter with 'superhero' Michelle Keegan READ MORE: Michelle Keegan breaks silence after daughter's birth with sweet update as famous pals continue to send messages Giving John some credit, Prue said: "He's very creative – he'll often decorate a cake better than I would. And he loves the little adventures, where he learns how to lay a hedge or how apple juice is made. "The people he interviews really love it as he'll ask all sorts of questions. He's not very on-message!' Prue also hinted at why she's been replaced by her close friend and business partner Lady Caroline Waldegrave on the celebrity version of Channel 4's Bake Off, giving an insight into the gruelling filming schedule, in comparison to the more relaxed approach of her ITV series. She explained: 'When I'm off to Bake Off, I often have to get up at five in the morning, so it's lovely. And ever since Covid, I love having a sleep in the afternoon. We build an hour into the schedule, so everybody has an hour off in the middle of filming." Prue will still be appearing on the main series of Bake Off alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, however, taking a step back from the spin-off series will allow her to have some much-needed time off. Addressing her decision in a previous interview, the 85-year-old baking expert said: "These things are filmed back-to-back all the way through summer from April to August so you don't get any time off. "I'm getting quite old and there's places I want to see. So I'm not doing this year's."
