Prue Leith is famous as a celebrated chef, restaurateur, television personality, and prolific food writer, best known for her role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off since 2017[1][2][3]. She initially rose to prominence by founding Leith’s Good Food, a catering business, and then opening the Michelin-starred Leith’s restaurant in London in 1969[3][5]. In 1975, she established Leith’s School of Food and Wine, a renowned culinary institution that has trained both professional chefs and amateur cooks[3][5].
Her influence extends beyond the kitchen: Leith was a longtime food columnist for major British newspapers, the author of 12 cookery books and seven novels, and the founder of culinary institutions such as Leith’s School of Food and Wine in the UK and the Prue Leith Chef’s Academy in South Africa[1][3]. She also served as a judge on BBC’s Great British Menu for eleven years and on My Kitchen Rules before joining The Great British Bake Off[1][3]. Her direct, knowledgeable, and charismatic presence has made her a widely admired figure in the culinary world and popular media[2][7].