6 months after they wed, Bake Off star Prue finally moves in with her hubby
GREAT British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has served up a sweet surprise for fans – by finally agreeing to move in with her husband.
The culinary queen, 77, married fashion designer John Playfair last October but vowed they would live apart due to her tidy nature.
But she has now decided to take the plunge and move in with John, 70, who lives just a mile down the road.
It will be the second fresh start for Prue this year, with the South African also teaming up with Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding for Channel 4’s revamped Bake Off, which starts filming next month.
After years of independent living, the famously self-sufficient star has now put her Cotswolds home up for rent.
The change of heart marks something of an about-turn for the new celebrity judge.
The couple started dating in 2011, but in November last year she said: “He’s got a lot of stuff and I’m rather neat and tidy. I don’t want all that stuff in my house, and he doesn’t want me tidying it up.
“He does all his ironing and he cleans his shoes there and he keeps all his gear there.”
A source said: “Prue’s renting out her home and thinks it’s about time to try living with John after they tied the knot last year.
“She hasn’t found a tenant yet but she has had some interest since advertising it this month.”
Plunge
Prue is set to earn a reported £200,000 for her star role on Bake Off – more than three times as much as Mary Berry, 82, and Paul, 51, got when the amateur cooking show was a smash hit on the BBC.
A date has yet to be announced for the series which will air later this year.
Prue was married to writer Rayne Kruger for 38 years before he died in 2008.
Channel 4 pinched Bake Off in a £75million swoop that stunned the BBC, it has been revealed.
The broadcaster signed a three-year deal with series makers Love Productions, angering millions of fans.
Businessman and host Lord Sugar, 69, star of BBC show The Apprentice, was one of those dismayed at the move.
He said at the time: “I feel sorry for the BBC. They invested years in making Bake Off popular and the greedy disloyal format owner has sold it to Channel 4.”
Comedian Noel, 43, will co-host the baking contest alongside Sandi, 58.
The duo are taking over from former presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who refused to jump ship in protest at Bake Off switching channels.
Noel said: “I’ve always loved brightly-coloured cakes and Sandi Toksvig, so this is a dream come true.”
PRUE LEITH, who married husband John last year, is only just about to move in with him. The couple had kept separate houses because the Bake Off judge was too “neat” to put up with his clutter. No doubt plenty of folk sick of finding towels on the bathroom floor, plates festering in the sink and shoes all over the hallway will think she had it right in the first place.