Prue Leith Opens Up About Her Mortality and Marriage
Renowned restaurateur and Great British Baking Show judge Prue Leith has spoken candidly about her mortality, revealing that she believes she hasn’t "got much longer" at the age of 85. In an interview with Holly Rubenstein on The Travel Diaries podcast, Leith acknowledged her age and the likelihood that she doesn’t have many years ahead of her. According to TV Insider, which first reported the story, Leith expressed her desire to spend as much time as possible with her husband, retired clothes designer John Playfair.
Leith, who met Playfair in the Cotswolds over a decade ago, has been married to him since October 2016. The couple has been together for several years, and Leith has spoken highly of her husband’s support and companionship. As reported by TV Insider, she said, "I haven’t got much longer; I’m 85. I want to spend as much time as I can with him." Leith also joked that Playfair often accompanies her on work trips, saying that her agent now requests that he accompany her as her "handbag carrier" due to her age.
Leith has been open about her marriage and her relationship with Playfair. In an article for The I, she noted that the only thing they quarrel about is her tidiness, with Playfair being the messiest man she’s ever met. Despite their differences, Leith has expressed her love and appreciation for her husband, saying that he’s worth it. As TV Insider reported, Leith said, "One of the wonderful things about him is that he is totally without ego, he doesn’t feel threatened by the fact that I have a higher profile than he does, when I introduce him he always just says ‘I’m the handbag carrier, I’m her chauffeur.’"
Leith has had a long and distinguished career, including her time as a judge on The Great British Baking Show. However, she recently announced that she will be stepping back from the celebrity edition of the show, although she will continue to serve as a judge on the civilian version. According to TV Insider, Leith explained that the filming schedule for the celebrity edition is grueling, with episodes filmed back-to-back throughout the summer. She said, "These things are filmed back-to-back all the way through summer from April to August so you don’t get any time off. I’m getting quite old, and there’s places I want to see. So I’m not doing this year’s [celebrity version]."
Leith has been married twice, with her first marriage being to property developer and author Rayne Kruger from 1974 until his death in 2002. She has two children from that marriage, a son, Conservative MP Danny Kruger, and a daughter, filmmaker Li-Da Kruger. As TV Insider reported, Leith’s marriage to Playfair has been a long and happy one, with the couple celebrating several years together.
In her interview with The Travel Diaries podcast, Leith spoke about the importance of cherishing time with loved ones, particularly as one gets older. Her comments have been widely reported, and fans of the Great British Baking Show have expressed their admiration for the 85-year-old judge. As TV Insider reported, Leith’s words serve as a reminder to appreciate the time we have with those we love.
