Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith is yet to sign a contract for the second series.
The 77-year-old restaurateur has won over the hearts of the nation with her brutal judging manner on the baking show over the past few months but, despite her successful first stint, Channel 4 are yet to renew her contract for next year’s instalment.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she said: "I’m still hoping Channel 4 will ask me back for the second series. They’ve asked me about timings and schedules but I’ve not seen or heard anything about a contract. It could all change, like ‘The X Factor’."
Although her co-stars Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding would love to see her return, Prue has admitted she’s using her time now to get back into writing.
She explained: "I actually gave up writing before ‘Great British Bake Off’. I’d been doing it [writing cookbooks and novels] for years and it took up too much time. But I’ve been coaxed back into it and now I’m writing and cooking more than ever. It’s a busy time."
Prue was hired by Channel 4 earlier this year after Mary Berry – who used to judge alongside the silver fox – announced her decision to leave the show "out of loyalty" to the BBC, who screened the programme since it first launched in 2010, after the broadcaster snatched the rights to the format in a mega-money deal last year.
But Prue has admitted she did reach out to Mary, 82, before she went for the job to find out what it would be like working alongside Paul, 51, on the cooking show.
She said recently: "I did ring Mary up and my first question was, ‘Is he workable with?’ She said, ‘Yes actually. He knows his stuff.’ "
Prue Leith to sign new contract with Great British Bake Off
