Prue Leith thinks there are "too many cookery shows" on television.
Despite starring as a judge on ‘The Great British Bake Off’ – and previously holding the same role on programmes like ‘Great British Menu’ and ‘My Kitchen Rules’ – the TV chef has insisted the market has become over-saturated because "ratings are everything" to bosses.
Speaking to the Mirror, she explained: "My own opinion is there are too many cookery shows on telly. I don’t watch cookery shows because for me they go too slowly.
"I think ‘I know what he’s doing now, why doesn’t he get on with it?’ But if you’re learning to cook from telly, you need it to be slow. I would prefer there to be less cookery, but broadcasters are doing what the public wants."
Although the 79-year-old star doesn’t like watching the shows, she has admitted after three years in the role she would still love to emulate the longevity of Mary Berry, 84, who appeared on ‘Bake Off’ for seven series before her exit when it moved from BBC to Channel 4 in 2016.
Prue added: "My great ambition is to at least equal Mary Berry. She did seven years, and she started at the same age that I started which was 76, so I’ll have to go on like she did until she was 83 or whatever."
Her comments on the amount of cookery shows on TV come after reports BBC is launching new series ‘Flour Power’ to bring back the viewers it lost when ‘Bake Off’ made the switch.
An insider previously said: "Ever since ‘The Great British Bake Off’ appeared on our screens, offices across the nation have been rife with bake-offs among their staff in fierce competition.
"The Beeb is keen to tap into this phenomenon in a bid to capture some of the magic of ‘Bake Off’. It is convinced this tweaked format might do the trick."
It is said the programme will see a panel of professional bakers visiting workplaces across the UK to judge employees’ baking skills.
Prue Leith says there are ‘too many cookery shows’ on TV
