Category Entertainment News

Dame Prue Leith has announced she will be stepping down as a judge on Great British Bake Off after almost a decade

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Dame Prue Leith candidly suggested she doesn’t believe she has “much longer” left. It came shortly before the 86-year-old announced she was quitting The Great British Bake Off after almost a decade.

Dame Prue previously revealed she wanted to spend as much time as she can with husband John Playfair. The baker says it led to her relying on John whenever she travels for work.

During an appearance on Holly Rubenstein’s The Travel Diaries podcast last year, Dame Prue admitted: “I haven’t got much longer, I’m 85, I want to spend as much time as I can with him.”

It led to Prue asking her agent to request John travels with her. And while she says he’s not her “carer”, she jokes it is “pretty close”.

She continued: “And so, if we are filming abroad, or like next week, we’re going to New York, because I’ve got to publicise the American baking show, then I’m now old enough for my agent to say ‘I’m sorry, but she has to ring her husband, because she’s 85, she needs someone to carry the bags’ she doesn’t quite say ‘she needs a carer’ but it’s pretty close. “

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Earlier during the podcast, Dame Prue spoke affectionately about her husband, highlighting his modest character and absence of vanity. She told listeners: “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’. “

Dame Prue married John in 2016, after losing her first husband, Rayne Kruger, who passed away aged 80 in 2002.

The pair had two children – Li-Da Kruger, whom they adopted from Cambodia, and Danny Kruger.

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On a different matter regarding her youthful looks at 85, Dame Prue disclosed: “I wish I could say it is from some wonderful thing I do, but if I look good or at least younger than I am, then it’s got to be at least because I sleep well and I eat well, and I am happy, when you’re unhappy, you don’t eat well. “

Dame Prue’s distinguished career in cooking commenced aged 20 when she signed up for the Cordon Bleu Cookery School.

Following her training there, she launched her first major venture into the food sector by establishing her own restaurant, Leith’s, in Notting Hill, London, aged 29.

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Her professional path has transformed her into a cherished television personality and accomplished writer of multiple cookery books. In 2017, she assumed one of her highest-profile positions as a judge on the Great British Bake Off, taking over from Dame Mary Berry.

In a statement on Instagram this afternoon, Dame Prue revealed she was stepping down from the show. It comes after she missed the 2024 celebrity edition with close friend Lady Caroline Waldegrave judging alongside Paul Hollywood.

During her spell on the show, Prue has worked with current presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond as well as previous hosts Sandi Toksvig and Matt Lucas.

She said: “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.

“But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake! ), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden. “

She added: “Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it. “

Looking for an affordable solution to keeping laundry dry through the winter weather? This home gadget could be just the ticket as it lands on sale for £70 off

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Unless you are lucky enough to have a tumble dryer, keeping laundry from piling up can be a challenge in the winter as there’s no cheap and effective way of getting clothes dry during rainy spells. That’s where shoppers may have found the ideal solution: a heated drying rack that dries your laundry inside your home and can be easily folded and stored away when not in use.

Plus, a home gadget like this doesn’t have to break the bank: the Alivio Electric Heated Clothes Dryer is currently on sale at Debenhams for a whopping 68% off, saving shoppers nearly £70.

READ MORE: Stacey Solomon swears by affordable sunrise lamp for waking up on dark winter mornings

READ MORE: Victoria Beckham launches new eyeliner with nod to slinky dress worn at Brooklyn’s wedding

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Touted as the “ultimate solution for all your laundry drying needs”, this electric drying rack is designed to make your life easier and your clothes dryer than ever before during the wetter seasons. Boasting cutting-edge electric heating technology, this electric drying rack comes armed with 20 efficient heating rods that are strategically placed throughout the rack to gently and evenly dry your laundry in no time.

When not in use, this drying rack easily collapses for compact storage, making it perfect for homes of all sizes and offering an affordable and more reliable solution than washing lines and tumble dryers alike. Plus, its sleek design and neutral colour scheme ensure it seamlessly fits with any interior decor.

What’s more, the dryer rack is not only practical but also eco-friendly. By utilising heated air instead of traditional tumble drying methods, it significantly reduces energy consumption and your carbon footprint, thus offering a more affordable solution to drying laundry on a regular basis over other traditional methods.

Normally retailing for a steep £99.99 at Debenhams, this electric drying rack is currently reduced to £31.99 thanks to this January sale.

For similar models, Lakeland is currently offering its best-selling Dry: Soon 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer for £159, while Amazon has an affordable alternative with this Generic 50Hz/230W Wing Electric Heated Clothes Foldable Airer Stable Dryer, which is currently selling for £29.49.

Plenty of shoppers have sung the praises of this Debenhams drying rack, with one shopper bestowing 5 out of 5-stars, saying: “I am so pleased with my airer, it suits and works well for two people. In wet weather, it dries well, off the line, it airs in a very short time. Pennies to run”.

Another buyer beams: “Works perfectly, cheaper than the central heating or tumble dryer. Wish it was easier to collapse and put up though”.

And more accolades come from this reviewer who raves: “Very cautious about the clothes dryer at first. Used it again today and it is marvellous, I have found that if you lay the clothes on it and not too many, they dry really quickly. Really pleased with it and would recommend to anyone”.

One of Victoria Beckham’s most iconic looks is the slinky silver dress she wore to Brooklyn’s wedding, and the new shade of her celebrity-loved eyeliner perfectly matches the look

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Fashion fans all over will remember Victoria Beckham’s iconic silver ensemble that she wore to her eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham’s, wedding back in 2022. A fan of the shimmery silver shade, Victoria Beckham’s beauty company has just released a dazzling new shade in her cult-favourite eyeliner that perfectly matches the hue of her iconic dress.

Customers and celebrities alike have been singing the praises of Victoria Beckham Beauty, with this eye makeup staple continuing to receive glowing reviews as it maintains its bestseller status. And this January, Posh Spice has unveiled several new tones, including the glitzy metallic hue.

READ MORE: Claudia Winkleman gets her ‘slept in a skip’ beauty look using Victoria Beckham’s eyeliner

READ MORE: Victoria Beckham’s touching tribute to David with affordable and dainty white gold bracelet

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The Satin Kajal Liner is a waterproof eyeliner pencil designed to create the perfect smoky eye look. With mattes, shimmers and jewel options available, the colour selection is remarkably extensive.

The liner is already available in an array of shades ranging from timeless black to more vibrant options such as Fig, Orchid and Bordeaux. The latest addition, Silver Glaze, is characterised as a chrome silver with shimmering sparkle, and we suspect it’ll prove popular with devotees.

Featuring a creamy formula for effortless, smooth application, this eyeliner promises to be smudge-proof and waterproof, making it ideal for wear throughout the unpredictable winter months. With its vibrant and ‘high-performance’ shades guaranteed to catch attention, shoppers are absolutely obsessed with this £32 must-have product.

The premium eyeliner delivers “low maintenance glamour” with a single stroke across the lid, whilst also providing bendability and flexibility that allows your new liner to effortlessly integrate into any desired eye look. And with grunge makeup experiencing a resurgence, these beauties are ideal for achieving that intentionally messy, smudged aesthetic that stays put throughout the day.

Fans who wish to bag theliner in Silver Glaze should move fast, as another new hue, Gold Lamé, has already sold out.

Glowing reviews have flooded in for these essential eyeliners, with one 5-star reviewer gushing: “Absolutely in love with the Kajal liner. Glides on like velvet. “

Another declares: “This eyeliner goes on smooth and smudges great. Once it sets, it says in place all day. The colour is really pretty also. “

A delighted customer enthuses: “This is the best eyeliner I have ever used. It’s easy to put on and lasts all day. The sharpener is a great tool too. “

A fourth beauty enthusiast comments: “Beautiful colour and probably the best liner I have ever bought. Stays without smudge all day. “

It’s important to highlight that one customer did mention struggling with shade selection online, noting: “Goes on so smooth. But, the colour is different than it appeared online. Going to order one more (#3) to try and get it right. “

Another shopper gushes: “I actually have three of these now and am wearing eye makeup for the first time because the pencils are so easy to use (I am 52). To me, they are worth every penny. “

Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has quit the Channel 4 show after nine years. Prue, who took over from Dame Mary Berry, has shared a statement to explain her decision

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Dame Prue Leith has quit The Great British Bake Off after nine years as a judge. The beloved judge, who joined the show in 2017 after Mary Berry quit, announced her exit in a statement today.

The 85 year old, who judges the baker’s creations alongside Paul Hollywood – who has been on the show since in began – is a fan favourite but is now looking forward to some time off, and plans to spend her summer in her garden instead of the sweltering Bake Off tent.

Prue posted photos of her time on the show, which included a snap of herself and Paul as well as a photo of Prue and Paul posing with hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding on her Instagram to share the news. She then wrote in the caption: “After nine series and judging more than 400 challenges, I have decided to step down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.

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“Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4. But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.

“Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it,” she penned as she ended the announcement. The news was met with well-wishes from fans as one wrote: “Ahhh sorry to miss you Prue! Thanks for all the love”.

Another added: “You will be so missed Prue, but you deserve that garden time. Thank you for all the smiles”, followed by a red heart emoji. “We will miss you thank you for all the years ! ! ! ,” a third said as a a fourth wrote: “You were fantastic on GBBO, you will be sorely missed. “

While Love Productions, who produce the hit show, added: “Huge thanks to Prue who has been a brilliant judge on Bake Off and a much loved presence in the tent for nearly a decade. From her genuine expertise and encouragement of the bakers to her ability to drop innocent innuendos that reduce the entire tent (and the audience at home) to tears of laughter, Prue will always have a piece of Bake Off’s heart. “

While Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz, said, “Prue Leith has been a joyous presence in the tent, pairing absolute culinary authority with great generosity and empathy for the bakers We are grateful for her passion, her wit, her ineffable style, and all the summers she spent in the tent.

“She leaves an indelible mark on the show and all its bakers. We will miss her wry, gentle judgement but look forward to working with her on new projects. ” Prue’s replacement will be announced in due course and the next series of the show will air later this year.

Prue stepped down from the celebrity version of the show in 2024 and was replaced by Lady Caroline Waldegrave. Her decision to step down from the celebrity specials sparked fears she was planning to quit the main show. Prue previously denied claims she was quitting Bake Off and told ITV’s Lorraine: “I keep being asked if I’m leaving. This is because I left the celebrity [version]. I stopped doing that last year because I just hadn’t had a holiday in the summer for eight years. I’ve only given up Celebrity [Bake Off]. “

The decision came after Prue told the Mirror how she almost quit the Great British Bake Off because she wanted to spend more time with her family but bosses changed her schedule so she could carry on.

She was then missing from the next Celebrity version of Bake Off which raises money for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer charity, so she could work less hours in the tent each year, and now had decided to leave entirely.

Asked if it was a hard decision to step back she told the Mirror in 2024: “You know, it wasn’t really hard because the fact of it is I was getting really tired. It meant we were filming from April to the end of August without a break and, although we got days off in each week, they were never the weekends. We were always filming at the weekend. And I was just… you know. I was in a new house and I hardly saw the garden, I hardly saw my family and I never had a summer holiday. I thought I might have to leave altogether because I didn’t realise there’d be an option.

“And so, I went to the producers and said, ‘I think I’ll have to quit…’ and they said: ‘Oh, don’t quit altogether. Don’t quit so you can have a holiday. If you want a holiday, let’s organise it so you can have a holiday’. “

Taylor Swift makes history again with huge accolade for her songwriting

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Taylor Swift will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee in her first year of eligibility. She will become the youngest woman ever to reach the milestone.

The new was announced in the US today and Swift will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at their annual Induction and Awards gala on June 11.

Billboard reported that at 36, she will be one of the youngest songwriters ever elected. CBS who broke the news first said she is the youngest ever female by almost a decade.

A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs can be inducted into the Hall of Fame 20 years after their first commercial release of a song.

Swift’s first single, “Tim McGraw”, was released in June 2006, so she was only just eligible this year but was immediately considered for the accolade.

In the UK Taylor Swift is also a huge success almost beyond compare. On 26 April 2024, The Tortured Poets Department delivered Taylor Swift her 12th Number 1 album. The official charts say no other artist in their history had notched up 12 chart toppers in such quick succession; Taylor Swift did it in a record-breaking 11 years and 6 months, from Red in October 2012.

Then in February 14, 2025 she overtook Madonna to become the female artist with the most UK Number 1 albums ever as vinyl release Lover (Live From Paris) topped the Official Albums Chart.

The Hall of Fame ceremony, which is sure to get lots of attention from Swift’s millions of fans around the world, is scheduled for June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, and will not be open to the general public. Additional special award honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

Taylor Swift makes history again with huge accolade for her songwriting

View Image

Taylor Swift will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee in her first year of eligibility. She will become the youngest woman ever to reach the milestone.

The new was announced in the US today and Swift will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at their annual Induction and Awards gala on June 11.

Billboard reported that at 36, she will be one of the youngest songwriters ever elected. CBS who broke the news first said she is the youngest ever female by almost a decade.

A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs can be inducted into the Hall of Fame 20 years after their first commercial release of a song.

Swift’s first single, “Tim McGraw”, was released in June 2006, so she was only just eligible this year but was immediately considered for the accolade.

In the UK Taylor Swift is also a huge success almost beyond compare. On 26 April 2024, The Tortured Poets Department delivered Taylor Swift her 12th Number 1 album. The official charts say no other artist in their history had notched up 12 chart toppers in such quick succession; Taylor Swift did it in a record-breaking 11 years and 6 months, from Red in October 2012.

Then in February 14, 2025 she overtook Madonna to become the female artist with the most UK Number 1 albums ever as vinyl release Lover (Live From Paris) topped the Official Albums Chart.

The Hall of Fame ceremony, which is sure to get lots of attention from Swift’s millions of fans around the world, is scheduled for June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, and will not be open to the general public. Additional special award honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.