Prue Leith Hopes New Novels Will Be ‘New Downton Abbey'

By Amy Hunt
She's been winning hearts and ratings over on Channel 4 with The Great British Bake Off, but now it seems Prue Leith hopes to emulate that success with her latest literary venture.
The chef is currently parking her culinary skills to return to fiction writing. Prue has penned several books before, but she clearly has big ambitions for her latest project, revealing her hopes that it will be the next Downton Abbey.
In an interview with the Mirror Online, Prue revealed that she is writing a trilogy of novels, starting in the war - similarly to Downton Abbey's historical background.
She also admitted that she sees the books being made into a TV series just like the hugely successful ITV show - but confessed that she wouldn't care to star in them herself.
During the interview at the Specsavers Spectacle Wearer Of The Year Awards, she said, "I'm finishing a trilogy of novels. It starts in the war, and there's love stories through three generations of the same family.
"My big ambition is for it to be the new Downton Abbey.
"I don't want to be in it, I want to write it. Maybe a little cameo performance."
She also confessed that she'd mirrored the novels on her own life - "A lot of it is based on personal experience - especially the middle book, that was my period, cooking in England from the 60s to now."
(Could the Prue Leith novel see the same success as Downton?)
And she even already has visions for who might star in the TV adaption of her books.
"There's a character in the first book, very pompous, ex-army, and I think I'd like Nathaniel Parker, a lovely actor, to play that."
Prue also spoke about how she's adjusting to her new-found fame following her role on Bake Off, admitting that she regularly gets recognised in public now.
"It's an ego trip. People who stop you in the supermarket are really nice."
However, she admitted to the Mirror that she not actually a fan of watching herself on screen. She confessed, "I'm so vain, all I can think is ‘why won't they stop filming my double chin?'"
It's not known when Prue Leith's books will be released, but the cook/author has penned a range of fiction titles before.
Most recently, she released The Prodigal Daughter, a tale about an Italian family in the restaurant trade. She's written around seven works of fiction in her time, along with - of course - her successful cookery books.
-
-
Sharon Osbourne gives her first interview since quitting The Talk
She appeared on a US chat show
By Sarah Finley •
-
The Queen cuts a poignant figure sitting alone, as she bids a final farewell to husband Prince Philip
The Monarch occupied a row to herself due to Covid-19 restrictions at the funeral of her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh
By Lauren Hughes •
-
Sharon Osbourne gives her first interview since quitting The Talk
She appeared on a US chat show
By Sarah Finley •
-
The Queen cuts a poignant figure sitting alone, as she bids a final farewell to husband Prince Philip
The Monarch occupied a row to herself due to Covid-19 restrictions at the funeral of her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh
By Lauren Hughes •
-
The Duchess of Cambridge's subtle tribute to the Queen at Prince Philip's funeral
The Royal Family bid an emotional farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh today
By Lauren Hughes •
-
Mike Tindall shares a candid photograph of Prince Philip and great-granddaughter Mia Tindall - and it's such a beautiful moment
The photograph was taken by the Duchess of Cambridge
By Lauren Hughes •
-
How to watch Prince Philip’s funeral from anywhere in the world
Prince Philip's funeral will take place today at 2.45pm
By Laura Harman •
-
The curious reason why there are no pictures of the Queen while pregnant
How times have changed...
By Lucy Buglass •
-
Prince Philip's funeral will reflect his love of the sea with these touching details
It's going to be a beautiful service for Prince Philip
By Lauren Hughes •
-
Everything we know about Frogmore Cottage in Windsor
Plenty has changed since the day Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got engaged...
By Amy Hunt •