FANS met Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith when she called in at John Lewis to sign copies of her new cookbook.

The celebrity chef was at the Westgate department store today to promote Prue: My All-time Favourite Recipes.

The 78-year-old, who replaced Mary Berry on the judging panel of the popular TV show, said: “People are so sweet and ask me for selfies - I love it - I’m such an egotist.”

Ms Leith said fellow judge Paul Hollywood “played tricks all the time” and they did not enjoy sending contestants of the baking show home each week.

She added: “Paul and I end up so fond of these wretched bakers it becomes more and more painful to push them out - there’s a very nice atmosphere in the tent.”

Ms Leith lives in the Cotswolds with her husband John Playfair, who is also in his seventies, and he accompanied her to the store.

She joined The Great British Bake Off in 2017 when the show channel-hopped from BBC One to Channel 4.

The broadcaster added: “I would love to do this for another five years but it’s unlikely they will keep me that long.”

First in the queue to get her booked signed was mum-of-two Nicola Drew, 47, from Shrivenham.

She said: “I’m a fan of Prue - she’s very friendly to the contestants and I like the way she pats them on the hand.”

The book is published by Pan Macmillan, price £25.