Nigella Lawson confirmed as new Great British Bake Off judge

"I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now! Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement. The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a national treasure and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it."

"The TV chef has taken a break from British screens in recent years. Her last series, Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat aired on BBC One in 2020, and she has appeared more on Australian television in the years since. She was a judge on the Australian culinary competition My Kitchen Rules in 2022 and 2023, having previously been a guest judge on the country's version of MasterChef."

Nigella Lawson will join The Great British Bake Off as a judge for its 17th series later this year, replacing Prue Leith. Prue Leith stepped down after nine seasons to spend summers enjoying her garden at the age of 86. Lawson will serve alongside long-standing judge Paul Hollywood. Lawson has largely been absent from British screens since 2020, with recent appearances on Australian television and judging roles on My Kitchen Rules in 2022 and 2023 and earlier guest judging on MasterChef. Lawson previously worked on Channel 4 with Nigella Bites and appeared on The Taste. Bake Off ratings on Channel 4 remain below the BBC One peak.

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