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Prue Leith, renowned judge on “The Great British Bake Off,” recently voiced her strong opinions on the UK’s inheritance tax, describing it as “wicked.” In an interview with The Telegraph, Leith, who is set to be succeeded by Nigella Lawson on the popular show, spoke candidly about her thoughts on end-of-life planning and her financial decisions.
At 86, Leith is proactively distributing her wealth to her children and goddaughter to minimize the hefty inheritance tax burden. “I enjoy seeing them use the money, whether it’s for school fees or buying a home,” she explained. “My strategy is to continue this so there’s nothing left to tax when I pass away.”
Leith criticized the inheritance tax, expressing her frustration: “Like many who have earned their wealth, I think, ‘I’ve already been taxed 45% on this income.’ It’s a significant amount, and the thought of being taxed an additional 40% upon my death is disheartening.”
While she acknowledges the necessity of government revenue and believes in the principle of wealthier individuals contributing more, Leith finds the concept of double taxation unfair. “Paying twice just feels wrong,” she remarked.
Leith also touched on the sensitive topic of assisted dying, reflecting on a personal experience. She described her brother’s passing as “slow and agonizing” and expressed her support for legalizing assisted dying, saying, “If it had been legal, he could have died peacefully, surrounded by love, with adequate pain relief.”
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The Bake Off star went on to tie the knot with John Playfair in 2016, admitting she is “so lucky” to have had two happy marriages.
Prue has previously admitted she “hasn’t got much longer left”, joking that John is “close to being her carer”.
She told Mail Online: “I never thought about death at all, but now, in my eighties, it crosses my mind several times a day – not deliberately, just inserting itself into everything.”