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Great British Bake Off's Prue Leith given security guard after replacing Mary Berry

Prue Leith
Sharnaz Shahid
Deputy Online Editor
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New Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has revealed she was given round-the-clock security after it was announced that she will be replacing TV favourite Mary Berry on the upcoming series of the popular baking show. The food writer explained how Channel 4 bosses pulled out all the stops to ensure her safety once the new line-up was finally confirmed. "On the day that they announced who the line-up was, they wanted to send a close protection officer," she told The Sun.

prue 2a© Photo: Getty Images

Prue Leith has revealed she was given a security guard after her role on GBBO was confirmed

READ: Mary Berry reveals she's never heard of new GBBO presenter Noel Fielding

Elaborating further, Prue added: "I said, 'Don't be ridiculous, we absolutely do not need a copper standing there looking.' But they said, 'No, no, no, we really must just to be on the safe side.' What did they think is going to happen? I'm not likely to be trolled. This is a nice family show." The 77-year-old, who will be joining original judge Paul Hollywood on the panel, went on to reveal her shock when she saw the security appear at her home. "When I got home that night at 11 at night, there's a chap in a van, a security guard. They sent somebody down to the country to look after me," she explained.

mary© Photo: Getty Images

Prue will be replacing TV favourite Mary Berry

STORY: Paul Hollywood breaks his silence on new Great British Bake Off line-up

Earlier this month, Channel 4 announced the new GBBO line-up which also sees British comedian Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig stepping into Mel & Sue's presenting role. Of her new appointment, Prue said: "I am just so thrilled to be joining Paul, Sandi and Noel on the biggest show on TV and I cannot wait to see what the real stars of the show - the bakers - are going to create for us. It is such an honour to be part of The Great British Bake Off team." The Great British Bake Off will return this summer on Channel 4.