DAME Prue Leith CBE, TV personality, writer, restaurateur and cookery expert, is stepping down as chancellor of Queen Margaret University (QMU) at Musselburgh.

Having served in the post since July 2017, she presided over her last graduation ceremonies in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall last week.

She officially concludes her term as chancellor of QMU at the end of this year.

Best known for her appearances as a judge in the hit Channel 4 TV series The Great British Bake-off and BBC 2 culinary show Great British Menu, she has become a household name in recent years, with numerous appearances on foodie programmes and other TV shows.

Her most recent TV success, Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen on ITV, has seen her open the doors of her own kitchen where she and husband John Playfair celebrate food, friendship and fun with easy-to-cook recipes for every occasion.

Aside from her “wealth of experience” as a TV presenter and contributor, it was her “impressive track record” as an entrepreneur, restauranteur, cook and writer which made her an “excellent fit” for QMU.

In her position as chancellor, she has not only taken part in graduation ceremonies and many other events, she has been a “passionate supporter” of students.

Dame Prue Leith is standing down as chancellor of Queen Margaret University. Photo: Sandy Young

A QMU spokesperson added: “She has always taken time to meet and talk to students, often providing them with a great insight into her career successes and challenges, and encouraging and advising them on their own career paths. She has been particularly active in supporting the university’s entrepreneurial opportunities for students.

“More widely, she always takes a keen interest in QMU’s work in cultivating entrepreneurialism on campus, and in its ambitions to support businesses and economic development through the creation of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub which is currently being constructed on land around the campus.

“With a proud history in food and nutrition dating back to 1875, Queen Margaret University continues to have a strong focus on food education and commercialisation.

“Prue’s wealth of experience as a food entrepreneur ensured her knowledge and experience was of great benefit to students and the university.”

Having successfully built a business from scratch in the 1960s which grew to become Leith’s Good Food, the party and event caterer, Dame Prue opened Leith’s, her famous Michelin starred restaurant, in 1969.

In 1975, she founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine, which trains professional chefs and amateur cooks. The group, employing 500 people, reached a turnover of £15m in 1993. She went on to sell her empire in the mid-1990s.

She has also held numerous public appointments, and was appointed an OBE in 1989, CBE in 2010, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2021 for services to food, broadcasting and charity.

The QMU spokesperson said: “Prue has always spoken up for the issues that she believes in, and she doesn’t shy away from difficult topics.

“She is a campaigner for assisted dying, having witnessed her brother’s unnecessary suffering in hospital at the end of his life.

“She believes that more work needs to be done to improve end-of-life care and to provide choice for those who are dying.”

Sir Paul Grice, QMU’s principal and vice-chancellor, said: “It has been a great privilege to have Dame Prue Leith as our Chancellor.

“She had a hard act to follow, taking over the role from our founding chancellor, Sir Tom Farmer in 2017, and she has been a true asset to the university.

“She has shown incredible dedication to our students, always making herself available to meet and discuss developments with staff and students, and supporting university events.

“Prue’s career and background resonates deeply with the values and ethos of Queen Margaret University.

“It is Prue’s high energy, positive attitude and zest for life which have really inspired our students and staff.

“She sets a great example to the QMU community – bringing positivity to everything she does, making the most of every opportunity, speaking out to make a difference to people’s lives, and always developing and learning in order to be the best version of herself.

“Her boundless energy is infectious, and she has a star quality and magic about her which makes people believe that anything is possible.”