Prue Leith says she ‘doesn’t want to do a Chris Evans’ on Bake Off
TV CHEF Prue Leith has said she does not want to “do a Chris Evans” in stepping into Mary Berry’s shoes as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
Leith is reportedly set to sign a deal for a rumoured £200,000 to join Paul Hollywood as a Bake Off judge when the programme moves to Channel 4 – nearly three times the amount received by Berry.
But referencing Radio 2 DJ Evans’ failed attempt to fill in the gap left by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May on Top Gear, Leith revealed she had concerns about taking the role.
Speaking at the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards last night, Leith, 77, a former Great British Menu judge, said: “I believe I’m about to be paid about a quarter of a million pounds or something and I’ve got a deal. It’s complete nonsense.
“I have not signed any contract. I’ve not got the job yet. I hope to have it – I have no idea if I will.”
She added: “Of course I [want the job]. There’s not a cook in the country who doesn’t want to do that job. It’d be lovely.
“It’s a bit scary following Mary, but I don’t want to do a Chris Evans.” Evans’ ill-fated stint on Top Gear lasted just one series, with viewing figures slumping in his time at the helm.
Leith, who is famed for the cookery school she founded in 1975, has previously said that she has attended two auditions for the Bake Off role, adding: “I’m certainly one of the runners. I can wish. I can dream.”
She said she hopes it will be “fairly soon” that she finds out from the production company about the job, because “it has been going on an awful long time”.
Leith – who left BBC Two cooking contest, Great British Menu in 2016 after 11 years as a judge – said she backs Hollywood’s decision to stay with the programme after its move to Channel 4.
Berry and the show’s presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins opted out of the switch, with baker Hollywood the only one of the original stars who will appear in the new series.
She said: “I think Paul Hollywood was quite perfectly within his rights to stay with Love Productions. They’d made him famous, he was getting a decent salary and he was enjoying it. Why shouldn’t he stay with them?”
Hollywood is rumoured to be in line for £400,000 per series.
Channel 4 bought the programme in a three-year deal worth £75 million. It will return to screens later this year.
Leith presided over the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual awards ceremony, which recognised books in seven categories, including contemporary romantic novels, historical romantic novels and paranormal or speculative romance novels.