Chef, businesswoman and Great British Bake Off presenter Dame Prue Leith spoke at Hay Festival this week about her life and endeavours.

At 1pm on Wednesday, 27 May, Dame Prue took to the Global Stage at Hay Festival in conversation with welsh presenter Steve Jones who interviewed Prue on her career.

The event subtitled ‘My Life in Books’ saw Leith open up about her life via the pages of her favourite books. At the age of 20 the food expert had opened up her first business and at 30 years of age she opened the Michelin-starred restaurant that helped her gain a name in the industry, Leiths.

Beyond the kitchen, she has been director of several major companies such as British Rail, Woolworths and the Halifax Bank, and chair of the Royal Society of Arts.

Prue shared her favourite books that have come along on her journey through life. Her talk with Steve Jones was sponsored by Castle Dairies, who is celebrating 60 years of butter making. The welsh-based company is offering shoppers the chance to win a weekend away at Llanerch Vineyard Hotel as a celebration of their milestone.

The company offered guests at the talk to trial their products at Prue’s talk at their trialling stand.

Nigel Lloyd, managing Director at Castle Dairies said: “As a third-generation family owned business, we are incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with both our team and customers. This campaign highlights our heritage, quality and commitment to Welsh butter.”

Prue has written several books, whether they are cook books, novels or books about growing old. Her latest book: Being Old and learning to love it explores life, it’s taboos and ageing with wit and honesty and came out in February of this year.