In a major announcement for British television, celebrated cook and food writer Nigella Lawson has been confirmed as the new judge on The Great British Bake Off. She steps into the role following the departure of Prue Leith, who has decided to step down after nine successful seasons on the popular baking competition.
A New Era for Bake Off
Lawson will join the programme for its next series, which marks the 17th season of the show, set to launch later this year. She will serve alongside Paul Hollywood, who continues in the judging role he has held since the baking competition first aired on BBC Two back in 2010. This appointment signals a fresh chapter for the iconic series, which has become a beloved staple of British television.
Lawson's Excitement and Honour
Expressing her feelings about the new role, Lawson stated: "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."
Her enthusiasm is matched by warm words from outgoing judge Prue Leith, who commented: "I'm thrilled that Nigella is to experience brilliant Bake Off. She's sassy, fun and she knows her onions – and her croissants, cake and crumble."
Lawson's Television Career
Lawson has taken a break from British screens in recent years, with her last series, Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat, airing on BBC One in 2020. Since then, she has been more active on Australian television, serving as a judge on the culinary competition My Kitchen Rules in 2022 and 2023, and previously appearing as a guest judge on the Australian version of MasterChef.
She is no stranger to Channel 4, where The Great British Bake Off now airs. Her first cooking series, Nigella Bites, appeared on the station, and she previously served as a judge on the culinary show The Taste. On that programme, contestants prepared a single spoon of food for her, Anthony Bourdain, and French chef Ludo Lefebvre.
Ratings Context and Future Prospects
Lawson joins The Great British Bake Off at a time when its ratings have seen some fluctuations. Since moving to Channel 4, the show has not reached the viewing figures it achieved on BBC One, where it averaged 10 million viewers. However, it has remained a ratings success for the broadcaster.
In recent years, numbers have generally declined since 2020, with the exception of the 2025 series. That season saw an increase of about 600,000 viewers from 2024, bringing the total to 7.26 million for the first episode of season 16. This uptick may signal renewed interest as the show enters its next phase.
Channel 4's Ian Katz expressed optimism about the new appointment, saying: "We're incredibly excited about the marriage of two great British icons: Bake Off and Nigella ... this summer's series will be as mouthwatering a prospect as her chocolate Guinness cake."
With Lawson's proven expertise, charismatic presence, and deep connection to British food culture, her addition to the judging panel is poised to bring a fresh dynamic to the show. Fans eagerly await how her unique style and culinary insights will influence the upcoming series, potentially helping to stabilise or boost viewership as the programme continues to evolve.
