Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood are reportedly not getting along on the set of The Great British Bake Off, with sources claiming the new judge finds her co-star's helicopter commute 'all rather cringe'.
Helicopter commute sparks tension
Paul, 60, commutes 120 miles from his home in Kent to the Bake Off set via his £500,000 Robinson Raven helicopter, according to the Daily Mail. Nigella, 66, who joined the Channel 4 show this year after Prue Leith's departure, allegedly finds this 'a bit much'. A source told the publication: 'He loves that helicopter – it's very much a status symbol for him, but frankly it also makes him come across as a right berk.'
The rest of the crew, including Nigella, reportedly arrive by car. The source added: 'Put it this way: imagine if you're super-rich Nigella and you see your co-star turning up in a helicopter, presumably to avoid the traffic and have a little bit of a show-off, you're going to think it's all a bit ghastly.'
Judges 'not getting on'
The same insider alleged that Paul and Nigella 'aren't really getting on too well'. Paul is supposedly 'put out' by Nigella's addition to the show. The source said: 'He loves himself and revels in being the top dog. Mary and Prue were happy for him to stand out and make all the jokes.'
Nigella is known for her innuendos and one-liners, such as: 'I love having an implement in each hand. It makes me feel busy' and describing a layer of peanut butter cheesecake as an 'inner thigh wobble'.
Previous co-star dynamics
Before Prue, Paul judged alongside Dame Mary Berry, who left in 2016. Mary told the Radio Times: 'Paul and I had our differences about what was important to us but he is a brilliant bread-maker and I admired him a lot.'
Metro has reached out to Love Productions, Channel 4, Nigella Lawson, and Paul Hollywood for comment. The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4.
