Prue Leith reveals Matt Lucas taught her how to make his mum’s chicken soup

Matt Lucas taught Prue Leith how to make his mother’s chicken soup, the cooking maven revealed ahead of a new series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off, which begins next week. 

The Channel 4 show – in aid of charity Stand Up To Cancer – will be presented by the Jewish actor and comedian solo, as partner in fun Noel Fielding has just had his second child.

Leith said of Lucas, who replaced Sandi Toksvig: “He’s very good at comfort. Very good at encouragement and making jokes and cheering up” the celebrities.

“In lockdown, he did teach me his mother’s method of making chicken soup, chicken broth. Very sort of famous Jewish mama’s chicken noodle soup,” she reveals. “I never got the noodles. But we did get the broth. And he made a really good chicken broth… nice and clear.”

In each episode of the show, four celebrities will battle it out over three rounds – the Signature, the Technical and the Showstopper – in a bid to be crowned Star Baker. This year’s show features Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley, actor James McAvoy, TV presenter Stacey Dooley and double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes. Other celebrities taking part include comedian and author David Baddiel.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer returns to Channel 4 on 9 March at 8pm.