Iconic Channel 4 competition The Great British Bake Off have welcomed a new judge in the form of Lady Caroline Waldegrave who is stepping in for her pal Prue Leith
Caroline Waldegrave, who is also known as Lady Waldegrave of North Hill, is stepping in for the beloved Prue Leith as a guest judge on The Great British Bake Off. Caroline, 74, is a close friend of Prue’s, has earned high praise from the seasoned judge.
“Caroline is absolutely ideal! She’s the kindest, most insightful teacher. Both the bakers and the audience are going to love her”, Prue gushed before her exit from the iconic Channel 4 competition.
Fans were introduced to Caroline last month when The Great British Bake Off revealed her role in an Instagram announcement, offering a sneak peek of the OBE honoree’s life behind the scenes.
At the time, the caption read: “Caroline is a former co-owner and managing director of Leiths School of Food and Wine, and a longtime friend of Prue’s. Her palate is among the best in the business”.
Looking back on her decision to appear on the show, Caroline admitted to Channel 4 that she was initially “terrified” about the idea but soon warmed up to the experience. “Everyone – from the crew to Paul – was incredibly kind and welcoming, so I eventually felt at ease,” she told.
She continued: “As a viewer, I’ve always loved watching people bake. But what I really enjoyed was seeing a competition that was so full of kindness”.
She also shared her thoughts on the nature of baking versus cooking: “Baking requires precision and following a recipe. Unlike cooking, where you can go by instinct, baking demands accuracy. If you stick to the recipe, you’ll succeed. I run my own cookery school, and we talk about Bake Off all the time. We’re all huge fans”.
Caroline’s current role is at Dudwell School, located on the grounds of the Waldegrave family’s estate, Dudwell Field Farm, which she shares with her husband, William Waldegrave, the British politician and former Cabinet minister, known as Baron Waldegrave of North Hill.
The couple has four children: Katie, Liza, Jamie, and Harriet. When she’s not teaching or baking, Caroline enjoys sharing photos of her scrumptious creations on social media.
While Caroline is quickly becoming a fan favorite, you may be wondering why Prue isn’t present for the special celebrity edition of the show. The reason is simple: she’s taken a step back from filming to enjoy some much-needed downtime.
“The filming schedule is non-stop, from April to the end of August, with hardly any breaks in between”, Prue explained. “I’m getting older, and there are places I want to visit”.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
READ MORE: Get 10% off your next beauty or wellness appointment – including hair, nails and massages
