Nigella Lawson has taken over as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, receiving widespread praise from critics ahead of the new series premiere on Tuesday, September 22. The television cook, who studied at Oxford University, joins the Channel 4 programme after the departure of Dame Prue Leith.
Critical Acclaim and On-Screen Impact
Lawson’s arrival has been met with significant approval from critics. The BBC reported that The Times said “lashings of Nigella Lawson help everyone rise to the occasion,” while The Telegraph declared “she is more delectable than anything the contestants could whip up in a showstopper challenge.”
Ben Dowell of The Times highlighted Lawson’s “highly seductive voice” and memorable lines from the first episode, such as “I want it really sumptuous,” concluding that “Bake Off has found a new star.” Anita Singh of The Telegraph described Lawson as “heaven for social media” and “a walking meme factory,” noting her utterances like “The flavours are giving me a lot of pleasure” and “I like a bit of goo.” Fellow judge Paul Hollywood has also expressed his admiration, calling Lawson a “queen” and stating that she has “fitted in beautifully” to the Bake Off tent.
Addressing “Feud” Rumours
Speculation had arisen regarding a potential “feud” between Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood, with reports from The Independent and Daily Mail suggesting friction due to their contrasting styles. An unnamed source quoted by the Daily Mail even alleged Lawson found Hollywood’s helicopter arrivals “all rather cringe” and “gauche.”
However, both judges have dismissed these rumours. The Oxford Mail reported Lawson’s comments to The Times, where she stated: “I feel that half will go, ‘Oh, there’s clearly something going on with them,’ and the other half will say, ‘Oh, clearly they don’t like each other at all.’ And I feel like that’s fine.” Hollywood corroborated this, praising Lawson’s quick adjustment and revealing they met before filming to “warm up,” making the on-screen dynamic feel “quite natural.”
The New Bake Off Series and Contestants
The 17th series of The Great British Bake Off premieres on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 22, at 8pm. The first episode’s technical challenge, set by Lawson, is a version of her coffee and walnut cake.
This series introduces a diverse line-up of contestants, including a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser, and a drag artist. Specific contestants confirmed are Clara, a marketing graduate; Connie, an NHS hospital discharge lead; Danni, an HGV service centre administrator; Gabe, an artist and drag king; Gary, a retired garment technologist; Molly, an accessibility coordinator; Moyin, a political economy student and sprinter; Mo, a law student; Nikki, an advertising post-producer; Shannon, a project planner; Tom, a hairdresser; and Yannis, a paediatric doctor.
Oxfordshire’s Connection to the New Judge
Nigella Lawson’s connection to Oxfordshire stems from her academic background at Oxford University, where she studied medieval and modern languages at Lady Margaret Hall. This local link adds a particular interest for Oxford and Oxfordshire readers as one of Britain’s most recognisable food writers and television personalities takes on such a prominent national role.
FAQ
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When does the new series of The Great British Bake Off start?
The new series of The Great British Bake Off premieres on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 22, at 8pm.
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Who is replacing Prue Leith as a judge?
Nigella Lawson has taken over from Dame Prue Leith as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
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What is Nigella Lawson’s connection to Oxford?
Nigella Lawson studied medieval and modern languages at Oxford University, graduating from Lady Margaret Hall.
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Are there rumours of a feud between Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood?
Reports of a “feud” between Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood have been dismissed by both judges.
