Prue Leith is a British-South African restaurateur, chef, caterer, television presenter/broadcaster, businesswoman, journalist, cookery writer, and novelist. Born on February 18, 1940, in South Africa, she is perhaps best known for her role as a judge on the popular television cooking show "The Great British Bake Off," which she joined in 2017. Before her television career, Leith established herself in the culinary world as the founder of the Leith's School of Food and Wine, a prestigious institution that trains professional chefs. She has also run a Michelin-starred restaurant and written numerous cookbooks and fiction books. Leith is recognized for her contributions to the industry and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to culinary arts.