I HATE THE WAY I LOOK( AND SOUND) ON TV
WHEN news broke that Bake Off was to go to Channel 4 and that Mary Berry would be leaving, it did cross my mind that it would be great if they offered me her job.
But I quickly dismissed the thought. They wouldn’t cast another old lady, would they? I thought they’d go for someone like Lorraine Pascale, or Rachel Allen, both good cooks and a lot younger and better-looking than me.
So I was surprised when I was invited to come and meet Paul Hollywood to see how the chemistry worked between us.
It turned out to be more of an audition than an interview — a mini Bake Off with two home economists acting as competing bakers, and Paul and me judging their cakes and scones. Another audition followed in Paul’s house, this time with me setting the challenge of a gugelhupf (yeast cake). I’d decided on this because I’d made one many years ago and it was a triumph.
Now keener than ever as the prize job seemed within my grasp, I thought I’d arrive with a perfect gugelhupf. So I made one. When I turned it out of its fancy fluted tin, my husband took one look at a slightly wobbly edge and said: ‘That’ll never get past Paul Hollywood.’
It didn’t taste exceptional either, so I had another go, using a famous Austrian chef’s recipe. It was packed with fruit and booze and the mix tasted wonderful — but it fell to pieces as it came out of the tin.
Wisely, I left my efforts at home. When I got to Paul’s house, the home economists had made perfect gugelhupfs. My shame was assuaged on hearing both cooks had been trained by Leiths — the cookery school I founded — and had used a Leiths recipe. I never said a word about my disasters.
I must say I love the programme — and I enjoy filming and eating cake (who wouldn’t?). But I’m too vain to watch myself on the box. I hate the way I look.
When I see pictures of myself in my 20s and 30s, I feel a pang of regret I took no pleasure in my looks. I was convinced I was overweight and horse-faced. God, what I would give today to weigh 10st and fit a size 12!
And I can’t bear my school mistressy voice. One Bake-Off fan, hearing of my appointment, tweeted: ‘OMG, NO. Prue Leith has the worst voice on television.’ I rather agree.