Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood opened up about their roles and how fans of the Channel 4 show perceive them, but it seems there’s more to the baking expert’s so-called “horrible” persona than meets the eye
Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter
18:00, 24 Oct 2025
Prue Leith has jumped to the defence of her co-star, Paul Hollywood
(Image: Dave Benett, Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Prue Leith has jumped to the defence of her co-star, Paul Hollywood, over his so-called “horrible” persona on The Great British Bake Off. Speaking from the legendary tent in Berkshire’s Welford Park, the Bake Off judges opened up about their roles and how they’re perceived by fans of the Channel 4 show.
Prue, a South African-born restaurateur, noted that they’re seen quite differently by the public, she being viewed as “kind” and Paul as “horrible”, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty matter of scoring, they’re fairly similar.
The chef revealed that their discussion about the bakes in Cake Corner is generally to “inform and remind” the viewers, as, realistically, Prue and Paul could “do it in two seconds”.
Prue told Radio Times magazine: “The audience often say that I’m kind and Paul’s horrible, but if you look at our scores out of 10, we’re never more than one point apart. I think I’ve given one 10 in nine years… I can’t remember to who though!”
The Bake Off judges opened up about their roles and how they’re perceived by fans
(Image: Channel 4)
She continued: “I used to say, ‘It’s not worth the calories’. That is my absolute judgment about any baking, because you know it’s full of fat and sugar, so: ‘Do I really want to eat this? Am I prepared to get fat?'”
Yet, it seems Prue had a change of heart when it comes to this particular comment, as people would say they “felt judged” for enjoying cake and thought she was being “fattist”.
Paul said: “I’ve never given a 10, only a 9.5. A handshake is very close to a 10. These are amateur bakers, but if they get a handshake from me, it means it’s very professional.”
Prue went on to say that Paul has a tendency to say he’s not giving out any handshakes, but the hand will ultimately “come out”, as a bake will prove so good that he “can’t resist”, adding that it’s been suggested she have her own version, the “Prue pat”.
Prue said Paul tends to say he’s not giving out any handshakes, but the hand will ultimately “come out”
(Image: Channel 4)
In other news, Paul, who’s appeared on the show since 2010, once reportedly showed a different side away from the cameras. Briony May Williams, who secured fourth place in the 2018 series, burst into tears when “every element” of her showstopper went wrong.
In the show, the chef dubbed her creation “a disaster” as she “overcooked” the mirror glaze and was sadly left with uncooked pastry. However, Paul’s actions off-camera would show a softer side.
She revealed: “I never got a [Paul Hollywood] handshake. I did, however, get a Hollywood hug off-camera when I was really upset about my cake on Cake Week, my showstopper, because it was really bad.
“I was upset, I was sat on my bench crying and I realised someone was stood behind me and I turned around and it was Paul.
“He gave me a really big hug and he said, ‘It’s okay it’s only a f*****g cake’. And yeah, that just really made me laugh.”
You can catch The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Channel 4 on Friday, October 24, from 8pm to 9pm.
