South African tipped for judge post on Great British Bake Off

A South African might take the cake when judge Mary Berry is replaced on The Great British Bake Off.

Johannesburg born Prue Leith (76) who moved to the UK as a young student to study cooking has confirmed that she is “in the running” for a central role in the cooking show alongside judge Paul Hollywood.

Leith’s agent‚ Hilary Knight‚ said that she is on the shortlist‚ but as yet nothing is confirmed. The show completed its seventh series on the BBC and next season is moving to Channel 4.

Neither Berry nor hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc are remaining with the show. A local version of the show‚ the Great South African Bake Off‚ has completed a second season.

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Leith‚ a food writer‚ restaurateur and founder of cooking schools in both South Africa and the UK‚ is no stranger to TV cooking shows having been a judge in The Great British Menu for 11 seasons.

Leith‚ who visits South African regularly‚ is the founder patron of the Cape-based Prue Leith Chefs Academy. She spends a week at the school every second year‚ giving advice and input.

Anthony Roberts‚ managing director of the academy says they would be delighted if Leith were made a judge on the show. “What we would really love is for her to be a guest judge on the OSUth African version – that would be great exposure for us‚” he joked.

Roberts believes she would be a great Bake Off judge. “She is so disarming. She keeps things casual‚ its her style to put everyone at their ease. On her biannual visits here the students know that she is coming but not the actual day. She will just pop up at their side in the kitchen.”

He says that what you see on TV is what you get. “Prue is tough but fair. All her criticism is constructive. She tends to be the voice of reason. Having cooked for so many years she understand the difficulties faced in the kitchen.

“But she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. For a technical and flavour point of view no contestant will catch her out.”

- TMG Digital/The Times