Prue Leith reveals she skips breakfast and lunch when judging the programme to keep in shape

Prue Leith skips breakfast and lunch when judging The Great British Bake Off – to avoid piling on the pounds.

The TV chef, 80, put on a stone while filming the latest series but says the way the show lifted the nation’s spirits during the pandemic justified all the sugar involved.

‘It was really important this show should be really good and friendly and almost loving. It is never unkind,’ she said.

‘I do think it is important to the nation’s health, despite the fact it is pushing sugar.

‘People ask, how do I manage to eat all that sugar? If you have 12 bakers in the tent doing two challenges a day, that is 24 teaspoons.

‘If you are careful, you can get away with 600 calories, which means you can have dinner. 

‘You do have to skip breakfast and lunch, however.’

Miss Leith said fellow judge Paul Hollywood did the same number of tastings and still ate three meals a day.

 ‘Paul and I both love it when we have a healthy bake challenge because it is such a relief from all the sugar we eat,’ she told The Sunday Times.

 ‘Paul can eat anything and never gets fat.’ 

A team of experts headed by the celebrity chef was asked to undertake a root-and-branch review into hospital food by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. 

The team’s 93-page report called for ‘dinnertime companions’, communal dining areas and ‘cutting sandwiches into quarters and adding a garnish’. 

It says patients should be given iPads to order meals online.

She said hospital food can be ‘delicious, nutritious and nicely presented’ for patients and staff.