Bake Off viewers are STUNNED as Prue Leith reveals she is 80 years old

She’s a hugely successful British-South African restaurateur, chef, and writer who’s become a much-loved baking judge on UK television.

And, Great British Bake Off viewers were left STUNNED on Tuesday night, as Prue Leith revealed that she is 80 years old.

Following a dismal Sussex Pond pudding technical challenge, Prue dropped her real age into conversation, while Paul Hollywood joked that he is 40 (he is 54 years old).

No way! Great British Bake Off viewers were left STUNNED on Tuesday night, as Prue Leith revealed that she is 80 years old

Amid a discussion with hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas about her love of the traditional 17th century dessert, Prue nonchalantly mentioned that she is 80.

Viewers immediately took to Twitter in their droves, in utter disbelief over the revelation, with many confessing to googling her age after her assertion.

One viewer tweeted: ‘Anyone else in shock that Prue Leith is 80?!!!!!!! I knew cake was good for you,’ asserted another.  

‘How is prue 80 years old? Drop that skincare regime sis. #GBBO,’ demanded another person.

Casual! Following a dismal Sussex Pond pudding technical challenge, Prue dropped her real age into conversation, while Paul Hollywood joked that he is 40 (he is 54 years old)

Shocked! Viewers immediately took to Twitter in their droves, in utter disbelief over the revelation, with many confessing to googling her age after her assertion

‘I’m sorry are we just going to skip past the part where Prue said she was 80 years old??? Is the secret to eternal youth the pond pudding #GBBO?’ asked someone else.

‘PRUE LEITH IS 80 YEARS OLD?! Stop it,’ tweeted another with a GIF of Barak Obama looking confused. 

‘I know 2020 has been a weird year but I did not expect to find out that Prue Leith is 80 years old #GBBO,’ admitted a fan of the show. 

‘How many people just googled “how old is #Prue” because they didn’t believe she really was 80?! #GBBO,’ tweeted one viewer.

‘Still trying to get over the part where we found out Prue is 80!!!!! #GBBO’ added a fan, while another admitted: ‘just found out Prue from bake off is 80 and I am FLAWED.’ 

The revelation comes a week after Paul Hollywood, 54, looked remarkably different in a dark-haired throwback snap from the 80s, which he shared with fans on Instagram. 

He is the ultimate silver fox of the Great British Bake Off tent and is well-recognised for his statement grey locks.

But the celebrity chef  posted the youthful picture ahead of the Bake Off’s 80s-themed week, joking that contestants had better get their ‘quiche, vol au vents and custard slices’ ready.

Handsome: It comes a week after Paul Hollywood, 54, looked remarkably different in a dark-haired throwback snap from the 80s, which he shared with fans on Instagram

Paul captioned the photo: ‘Here’s one from the late 80s, its also the theme for the Bake Off tonight, “THE 80s”…! 8pm on @channel4. 

‘Quiche, vol au vents and custard slices at the ready X.’

Despite his instantly recognisable piercing blue eyes, people could not believe how different the Bake Off judge looked. 

But fans quickly rushed to compliment the TV star on his short brunette hair in the ‘handsome’ snap – with some noting a resemblance to Hollywood icon Tom Cruise.

Throwback: Despite his instantly recognisable famous blue eyes, his fans could not believe how different the celebrity chef looked in his youthful picture

One fan commented: ‘Giving Tom Cruise a run for his money here,’ while another flirty user penned: ‘Handsome back then and sexy now!’

A third humorously wrote: ‘Oooh just what I needed on a Tuesday morning.’ 

Series nine Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal replied to Paul’s snap, teasing that he was ‘born in the 80s’ – when Paul would have already turned 20 years old in 1986.

Rahul wrote: ‘I was born in 80s!! Can’t wait for tonight’s episode. Good luck to the amazing bakers!’ 

Some of Paul’s fans also pointed out his resemblance to his 18-year-old son Josh, who he shares with his ex-wife Alexandra. 

Resemblance? Paul’s fans rushed to compliment the TV star on his short brunette hair in the ‘handsome’ snap – with some noting a resemblance to Tom Cruise (pictured in 2018)

It is not the first time that Paul has shared a throwback snap on Instagram as the TV personality also revealed another picture from the 80s in July.

The unrecognisable photo saw Paul donning shoulder-length dark hair falling in front of his face during his ‘art school days’.

The young Paul, who would have been around 17 years old at the time, posed holding his cat in the image dated ‘circa 1982/3’.

The TV star embraced his long brunette locks while studying sculpture at the Wallasey School of Art in The Wirral, before pursuing his career in baking.

Unrecognisable: Paul shared another 80s throwback snap on Instagram in July, where the TV personality was almost unrecognisable without his statement silver hair

Alongside the snap, he wrote: ‘Holding my cat… art school days circa 1982/3 ..!!! X.’ 

Rahul, 33, commented on Paul’s uncanny likeness to GBBO presenter Noel Fielding who is known for his dark locks.

Another fan said: ‘Are you sure you and @noelfielding weren’t separated at birth?’ 

The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.