Dame Prue Leith has revealed she decided to leave the Great British Bake Off out of 'a desire to work less and play more'.

The TV chef, 85, who replaced original judge Dame Mary Berry in 2017, announced she was saying goodbye to the hit baking series after nine years on Instagram last week.

On Monday, Nigella Lawson was confirmed to be taking her place, and will join co-judge Paul Hollywood when the new series begins filming in April ahead of airing later this year.

Prue has now explained why she decided to step down from the Channel 4 show, admitting she had been debating it for a while, but decided to pull the trigger because she wants the chance to work more in the winter months and 'play in the summer'.

Speaking to The Spectator, she said: 'I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off. 

'When I joined nine years ago, I thought, since I was in my mid-seventies, that I'd be lucky to manage two years. 

'At that age, my mother was deaf as a post and away with the fairies, believing her son was her father and that her cat was the one she'd had 40 years before. 

'But my marbles stayed more or less in place and there seemed no good reason to give up a job I loved. 

'Finally, though, the desire to work less and play more got to me. Bake Off and its offshoots such as The Great American Baking Show and even the Christmas specials are all filmed in the summer, which has meant I could never have a summer holiday.'

Prue explained that a recent getaway to Madagascar was what finally convinced her that it was time to move on.

'I suddenly realised that if I don't give up Bake Off, I'll never again have a holiday in the south of France, in Italy, in Spain, or even in Cornwall or Scotland,' she said.

Expressing her desire to 'reorganise my life a bit', she went on: 'I've made truly great friends. It has been a joy to work in such great company.

'I find it irritating when businesses insist their staff are all just one happy family. But that tent does seem to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, friendship and mutual support.

'But in the end, I persuaded myself that at 86, it was time I jumped before I was pushed.

'In all my conversations over the past two years with the bosses of Love Productions, which makes the programme, they've always insisted I was doing a great job and could stay as long as I like.

'And I know I'd enjoy it if I stayed. But I do want to reorganise my life a bit. Ideally, I'd like to work in winter and play in summer.'

But Prue said that there was so much she would miss about the show, particularly fellow judge Paul and the Bake Off presenters - the 'unstoppable, loving, hilarious' Alison Hammond and the 'multi-talented, slightly crazy' Noel Fielding. 

She added that she 'never had to learn lines, rehearse, go to meetings' and instead just had to arrive on set and eat cake all day, as she declared: 'There cannot be a better job in the world.'

She was also full of praise for her replacement, calling Nigella a 'great baker' and 'also really nice, mighty glam and seriously bright, sexy and sassy', adding: 'I'm just glad she wasn't in the running nine years ago.'

Nigella previously admitted being daunted by the big shoes she had to fill, following two 'great dames' in Prue and Mary.

She said in a statement: 'I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now. Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement.

'The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure – and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it.'

Before adding: 'I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!'

Following the announcement that Nigella was coming onboard the show, Prue wrote on Instagram: 'I was so hoping it would be Nigella! Brilliant choice.'

While host Noel commented: 'So Excited !!! Welcome to the Mischief Palace x x We will all have a blast. x' and Alison added: 'Welcome to the family Queen.'

Nigella thanked fans for their support saying: 'Thank you, thank you, thank you — I can’t wait to enter the Tent of Dreams!'