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Prue Leith makes ‘shameful confession’ about Bake Off

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In January, it was announced that the cook, who lives in the Cotswolds, would bow out of the Channel 4 show after nine series and judging more than 400 challenges.

The 86-year-old has been a judge on the popular baking show alongside Paul Hollywood since 2017, when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4, replacing Henley resident Dame Mary Berry.

READ MORE: Britain’s Got Talent stars join cast of Clarkson’s Farm series five

It was then announced on Monday, January 26, that Oxford University graduate Ms Lawson will replace her as the judge on the Bake Off.

Now, Dame Prue has written an article for The Spectator entitled ‘My shameful confession: I’m not a good baker’.

In the piece, the former Bake Off star opens up about her baking skills and even mentions what fellow judge Mr Hollywood would think of her efforts.

READ MORE: Father Brown renewed for two series as filming begins in Cotswolds

Dame Prue said: “Contrary to popular conception, I’m not a great baker. I was hired by Bake Off for my judging experience, not my baking skill.

“I’m a good cook, and I know what’s right and wrong about a cake, but I suspect my own baking efforts would not often get Paul Hollywood’s nod of approval.

“On the day before Good Friday, I decided to make hot cross buns. They were a total disaster. Analysing them, I could hear myself say: ‘No flavour’.”





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Illegal Citreon Picasso seized on A41 by Oxfordshire town

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Thames Valley Police said they confiscated the vehicle today (Friday, April 17) as it was on the roads uninsured.

In addition to the vehicle seizure, the driver has been reported.

A spokesperson for the Roads Policing team said: “First vehicle seizure of the late shift today by XRC01 on the A41 near Bicester.

READ MORE: Vauxhall seized as motorist drives from Oxfordshire police

“Driver was going to get around to insuring it at the weekend. Vehicle seized. Driver reported.”

This follows an incident on Wednesday, April 15 when a Vauxhall car was confiscated by Thames Valley Police.

The police attempted to talk to the driver of the car who then “made off” after which the car was located and recovered from its registered address.





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Oxford expert’s sunscreen warning as heatwave predicted

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Dr Tina Tian, a consultant dermatologist at Stratum Dermatology Clinic Oxford, has provided advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen amid a warning about leaving kid’s skin unprotected.

This not only comes ahead of Melanoma Awareness Month (May) but also with a heatwave predicted for much of the south of England.

READ MORE: Named ‘delivery rider’ pleads guilty after cocaine arrest in Oxfordshire town

The Daily Express has said that temperatures in counties, including Oxfordshire, could soon soar to up to 23°C, citing the latest ECMWF weather model.

Its data reveals temperatures are likely to peak on April 29.

Considering this Dr Tian and Dr Ross Perry, GP and medical director of Cosmedics, have highlighted the importance of encouraging children to wear sunscreen.

Dr Perry said: “Children’s skin is significantly more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin.

“The outer barrier isn’t fully developed, which means ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates more easily and can cause damage at a deeper cellular level.

Photo of a past heatwave in Oxford (Image: Ed Nix)

“What many people don’t realise is that a proportion of lifetime sun damage actually occurs before the age of 18.

“Even a handful of serious sunburns in childhood can increase the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, later in life.”

Dr Tian agrees with Dr Perry and has provided some advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen.

This includes making it part of their routine, involving them in the process and turning it into a game.

Dr Tian said: “I often ask my daughter what kind of face she wants me to paint with the sunscreen to try to make it more fun.”

She also suggested non-stinging sunscreen.

“When sunscreen gets into children’s eyes, it can really sting so look out for sunscreen that is labelled as non-stinging,” she advised.

“The P20 one is really good due to the fact that it’s so water-resistant, so it doesn’t really move and won’t migrate into the eyes and make them sting.”

The experts also advised explaining why it’s important, using age-appropriate language, and to make it a reciprocal process.

READ MORE: UK pothole campaigner speaks out after Transport Minister’s Oxfordshire crash

Dr Tian said: “With my son I find it really helpful to get him to put some sunscreen on me first to make it a bit of a reciprocal thing.”

Finally, she suggested letting children play with the lids and to warm up the cream beforehand.

She said: “A lot of sun creams have lids and you can draw funny faces on the lid and let your kids play with it while you’re doing the cream.”

She added: “Sun cream often feels very cold, so it can help to warm it up in your hands a bit before you start putting it on your child so it’s not too much of a shock for them.”





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Oxford bridges in need of repair as calls made for funding

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The government has opened a new fund for councils to fix neglected infrastructure around the UK.

Donnington Bridge is in need of around £4m worth of repair work having been closed to buses in 2024.

And a major project to replace the ageing Kennington rail bridge is being delayed due to a massive £71m funding shortfall.

Oxford Labour said some of the city’s bridges “are not in good shape” and welcomed the funding opportunity.

Kennington rail bridge’s north elevation (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

“We trust the county council will be applying to this fund and stepping up their surveying and repair work,” a party spokeswoman said.

Isis county councillor Brad Baines said: “We remain extremely concerned about the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Donnington Bridge.

“The county council has refused to commit to funding the reinforcement or replacement of the bridge or restoration of bus connections across it.”

READ MORE: Liquidators confused over missing £100k from bust Oxford restaurant’s accounts

An inspection confirmed the bridge must be repaired or replaced before full‑sized buses can return.

Repairs could cost £4 million and take two years, while replacement might cost up to £30 million and take much longer.

The council said feasibility work on options is due by summer but expanding the service “would, unfortunately, be prohibitive.”

Siobhan Lancaster (Image: Esme Kenney)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (Image: Yui Mok/PA)

Oxford resident and campaigner Siobhan Lancaster added: “Residents in south and east Oxford need certainty about the future of this vital infrastructure and this new fund could provide that.

“We continue to call on the county council to provide this, apply to this fund and get the job done.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s spokesman said: “We welcome any extra money being made available for repairing structures such as this fund.

“Oxfordshire has many historic bridges and other infrastructure that is in need of attention and we will look into the criteria to make sure the county gets its fair share of this money.”

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander, who was a recent victim to one of Oxfordshire’s potholes, said: “Crumbling bridges and worn-out flyovers have been patched up rather than properly fixed for far too long, leading to frustrating weight limits and lengthy diversions.

“Every closed bridge is a barrier to growth; a blocked route to work, a delayed delivery, a family unable to reach the services they depend on.

“Councils have known what needs fixing for years but simply haven’t had the resources to act.

“We’re changing that, making sure structures are repaired properly, so people can live in properly connected communities.”

Funding decisions will be announced in autumn 2026, with all successful schemes required to complete works by March 2030.





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