Dame Prue Leith has set the record straight about her financial situation and the inheritance she plans to leave.

The 85-year-old baking maestro refuted claims about her net worth, admitting: "I've read I'm worth £85m, which is total rubbish. I have no idea where that figure came from, and I don't have a tenth of that."

Speaking of her intentions for her estate, the Great British Bake Off star says she intends to be generous with her family: "I do also want to give my children as much money as I possibly can." Moreover, she expressed her philosophy on money management: "I believe it's better to give it away or spend it than have it sitting in the bank."

In further discussion with Evoke, Dame Prue criticised the current inheritance tax policy as unfair, remarking: "It does seem to be double taxation because however you got that money, you've already paid tax."

Apart from financial matters, Leith reminisced about her extensive career in cooking since completing her training at the Cordon Bleu Cookery School at 20 years old. A highlight of her culinary journey was opening Leith's restaurant in Notting Hill when she was just 29.

Prue's influence in the food industry has grown through her TV appearances and cookery books, yet she is most notably recognised for judging The Great British Bake Off with Paul Hollywood, a role she embraced in 2017 after Mary Berry stepped down.

Prue Leith has announced she's stepping back from her role on the celebrity version of Great British Bake Off, despite continuing with the main show. She candidly explained her reasoning for reducing her commitment: "It's mainly because these things are filmed back to back."

She elaborated, "The whole way through the summer, so you start in April and you end at the end of August. Honestly, you get no time off. And, I'm getting a bit old and there's places I want to go." Caroline Waldegrave, her comrade from Leiths School of Food and Wine, will take over during Prue's absence.