Prue Leith says reports she is to be paid three times as much as Mary Berry for a role on The Great British Bake Off are “complete nonsense” and she does not yet know if she has the job.
The former Great British Menu star, 77, has been in talks for a judging role on the popular cookery show, which is moving to Channel 4 this year after it was sold by production company Love Productions following a seven-series run on the BBC.
Prue also said she “doesn’t want to do a Chris Evans” in taking over from Mary, referring to the now-ex Top Gear presenter’s failed attempt after his predecessors Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May left the motoring show.
Reports have speculated Prue was to sign a deal to star in Bake Off for a rumoured £200,000.
Mary Berry (Mark Bourdillon/BBC/Love Productions)
Speaking ahead of hosting the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2017, Prue told the Press Association: “I believe I’m about to be paid about a quarter of a million pounds or something and I’ve got a deal. It’s complete nonsense.
“I have not signed any contract. I’ve not got the job yet. I hope to have it – I have no idea if I will.”
Of taking on the coveted job, she said: “Of course I (want it). There’s not a cook in the country who doesn’t want to do that job. It’d be lovely.
“It’s a bit scary following Mary, but I don’t want to do a Chris Evans.”
She said she hopes to find out if she has got the job “fairly soon” and that the process “has been going on an awful long time”.
Prue – who left BBC Two cooking contest The Great British Menu in 2016 after 11 years as a judge – said she backs Paul Hollywood’s decision to stay with the programme after its move.
Prue Leith (PA)
Mary and the show’s presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins opted out of the switch, with baker Paul the only remaining original star to appear on the next series.
She said: “I think Paul Hollywood was quite perfectly within his rights to stay with Love Productions. They’d made him famous, he was getting a decent salary and he was enjoying it. Why shouldn’t he stay with them?”
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