The good news? The BBC insists her absence is temporary. Prue herself said in a recent interview, “I’ll be back when my schedule isn’t bonkers.” Translation: she’ll return as soon as she’s tired of eating steak and drinking gin. We can expect her back for the next season—or at least until she decides to start a new career as a professional cake-thrower.
But here’s the bottom line: without Prue, Bake Off is like a tent with a hole in the roof. Sure, the bakes are still there, but the magic is leaking out. So, Paul, if you’re reading this—go find Prue. Bring a glass of champagne. Tell her we miss her loud laugh and her brutal, loving critiques. And if you can’t find her, just follow the trail of crumb-covered diamond earrings.
