Dame Prue Leith, the star of The Great British Bake Off, has become a household name since joining the show in 2017 when it switched from BBC to Channel 4.

Prue, who is now 85, stepped into Dame Mary Berry's shoes to co-judge alongside Paul Hollywood. With nearly 10 years under her belt on the popular programme, Prue has recently discussed the possibility of retiring from her judging duties.

The esteemed TV chef has often spoken candidly about the challenges of ageing and its impact on her ability to maintain her usual pace in both her career and personal life.

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Earlier this year, Prue shared her feelings with the Loose Women panel, confessing: "Age stinks, come on, it takes me 10 minutes to get myself out of bed in the morning. If I don't do my exercises, I can't move."

Despite recognising that she is nearing the latter part of her life, Prue remains determined to enjoy herself, stating that this realisation only spurs her on to have more fun, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Prue remarked: "There are all sorts of things that are wrong with old age, you're very conscious that this is nearly the end. You then decide that you're going to make the most of it and have fun."

One of the downsides of advancing years is the body's increasing fragility and diminished capacity to fend off illnesses that once would have been easily shrugged off.

In April, Prue lamented over the limitations ageing has imposed on her, especially in relation to gardening, which is one of her cherished pastimes.

She revealed to The Telegraph: "We've got a new potting shed and greenhouse and I'm thrilled. It's full of plants I had in childhood in South Africa, like bright bougainvillaea.

"I like propagating because my back hurts and I can do it on a high stool. I'm not as hands-on as I'd like because I'm no longer able to be. I find it vaguely surprising I can't do certain things any longer."

Despite the limitations that come with advancing years, Prue has revealed there are particular methods she uses to cope, including being mindful about her eating habits. Earlier this year, the baking guru opened up about certain treats she finds impossible to turn down, and that she occasionally becomes "furious" when spouse John Playfair presents her with nibbles.

She confessed to The Telegraph: "My husband John is naughty because he'll bring me tea and yogurt and I'll be furious because I won't be able to resist eating it. I don't usually have breakfast as it's about the only food I can resist and I have a problem keeping my weight remotely down."

Prue has been married to John since 2016, and stressed during an appearance on Holly Rubenstein's podcast The Travel Diaries that she's determined to maximise every moment with him now she's in her 80s.

She explained: "I haven't got much longer. I'm 85 and I want to spend as much time as I can with him.

"So, if we are filming abroad, or like next week, we're going to New York, because I've got to publicise the American baking show, then I'm now old enough for my agent to say 'I'm sorry, but she has to ring her husband, because she's 85, she needs someone to carry the bags,'. She doesn't quite say, 'She needs a carer' but it's pretty close."

The Great British Bake Off returns tonight (Tuesday, September 2) on Channel 4 at 8pm.