Prue Leith: How to grow old without fear

Prue Leith: How to grow old without fear

From Ways to Change the World with Krishnan Guru-Murthy by Channel 4 News

May 1, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Prue Leith discusses her views on ageing and her new book while reflecting on her career and personal experiences.

Prue Leith may be best known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off , but her influence reaches far beyond television. She founded a leading cookery school, built a Michelin-starred restaurant, spent decades shaping national policy on food education and public health, and has written extensively on ageing. This year she also served as a judge for The British Book Awards. In this episode of Ways to Change the World, she speaks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy, reflecting on her latest new book ‘Being Old… and Learning to Love It!’ and talks frankly about growing older, staying relevant, finding happiness, and why she believes ageing can be liberating. Prue also discusses childhood nutrition, school food, her campaigns with Jamie Oliver, weight-loss injections, why she refuses to exercise, and the realities of caring for a parent with dementia. This conversation includes discussion around suicide.

People in this episode

Host: Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Guest: Prue Leith

Topics covered

  • ageing
  • food education
  • public health
  • happiness
  • dementia
  • nutrition

Keywords

  • ageing
  • Prue Leith
  • nutrition
  • dementia
  • happiness
  • food education
  • Jamie Oliver

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Great British Bake Off, British Book Awards, Jamie Oliver

Books & works: Being Old… and Learning to Love It!

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