Who is Caroline Waldegrave? Meet Prue Leith’s replacement for Celebrity Bake Off
CAROLINE Waldegrave is a famous chef who replaced Prue Leith on Bake Off Stand Up to Cancer.
She will appear alongside Paul Hollywood, as they judge celebrities including Amelia Dimoldenburg and Roman Kemp.
Who is Caroline Waldegrave?
Lady Caroline Waldegrave OBE is Prue’s “longtime friend” and colleague.
She first met Prue in the 1970s after applying for a job at her catering company Leiths School of Food and Wine.
Caroline went on to serve as its principal from 1975 to 2002.
In 2000 she was awarded an OBE for her services to the UK catering industry.
She has co-written several cookbooks including Leiths Cookery Bible, Leiths Easy Dinner Parties, and Leiths Seasonal Bible.
Caroline retired in 2009 but has moved into television since then.
She has previously featured in shows including Chef School, MasterChef, and Tricks of the Trade.
Speaking about her role on the Celebrity Great British Bake Off, Caroline admitted that she was nervous.
She said: “I was completely terrified.
“Then, when I turned up, I went to the shepherd’s hut I was allotted and there were banners outside saying ‘Welcome!’ and flowers.”
She added that Hollywood and the production company were “just so kind and so friendly that I did relax” noting that the “mood is very light” on set.
Co-host Alison Hammond said of the new judge: “She’s not too strict, I don’t think she’s as strict as Paul, she’s a really lovely lady and really passionate about baking.
“She’s a lovely addition to the family.”
In 1975 Caroline married her husband William Waldegrave, who served as a Cabinet Minister with the Conservatives between 1990 and 1997.
He is now a life member of the Tory Reform Group and became a life peer in the House of Lords in 1999.
The couple have four children together: Katie, Liza, Jamie and Harriet.
Prue’s exit from the show
In 2024, The Great British Bake Off judge confirmed in an interview with This Morning that she would no longer be taking part in the specials of the show.
However, she will still star alongside Paul for the main series.
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.”
Prue replaced beloved baker and cook Mary Berry on Bake Off in 2017 and appears alongside fellow judge Paul, 58, and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Watching Celebrity Bake off
The new series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer aired on Sunday, March 16 at 7:40pm.
There will be five episodes airing on a weekly basis starring celebrities including Amelia Dimoldenberg, Roman Kemp, and Gloria Hunniford OBE.
The series will run until April 13, 2025.