Nigella Lawson has been pictured alongside all her Great British Bake Off co-stars for the first time, as she steps in to replace Dame Prue Leith as a judge on the Channel 4 baking show. The 66-year-old TV chef's debut on the show comes amid reports of friction with fellow judge Paul Hollywood, though neither has publicly commented on any disagreement.
First Day on Set
In a photograph taken on her first day of filming in the Bake Off tent, Lawson is seen wearing a black zipped dress, standing between presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, with Paul Hollywood smiling from the end of the group. Filming for the upcoming series has now wrapped, and the show is scheduled to air from next month. Channel 4 has said viewers can expect Lawson to bring her 'trademark warmth, wit and passion for flavour to the tent'.
Hollywood, 60, who has been a judge on the show since it began in 2010, returns alongside co-hosts Hammond, 51, and Fielding, 53. This marks the first series without Dame Prue Leith, 86, who announced in January she was stepping down after eight years on the programme.
Chemistry and Rumours
Earlier this year, Hammond spoke positively about the new judging duo, describing their chemistry as 'unbelievable'. Speaking to Lorraine Kelly in May, she pointed to a blown-up photo of Lawson and Hollywood onscreen and said: 'Look, you can feel it, can’t you? Don’t they look good-looking? Look at them!' She added: 'Honestly, they’re so good together. Because I’ll be honest with you, they don’t always agree, and it’s so good!'
However, in July, reports emerged suggesting the judges were 'not getting on', with Lawson reportedly finding it 'rather cringe' that Hollywood commuted to set each day in his £500,000 helicopter, flying himself 120 miles from his home in Kent. A source told the Daily Mail: '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 insider continued: '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.' The same source alleged that Paul and Nigella 'aren’t really getting on too well', though no official statement has been made by either party.
Lawson's Excitement and Background
Speaking on ITV's This Morning in January about joining Bake Off, Lawson said: 'I am excited, but I take it very seriously. The thing about Bake Off is that it’s about the programme – which is an institution of national treasure status – and it’s about the bakers, and I just want to be there and be a part of it.'
Lawson, an Oxford graduate, began her career as a journalist before becoming a food writer. She authored popular cookery books including 'How To Eat' and 'How To Be A Domestic Goddess', the latter winning the British Book Award for author of the year in 2001. Her television career started with the Channel 4 show 'Nigella Bites', followed by shows on ITV and the BBC. She has also gained popularity in the US, appearing on food-related programmes and as a guest judge on the American version of MasterChef.
On Friday, Dame Prue Leith reassured fans she was 'alive and kicking' after being taken to hospital over fears she had suffered a stroke. Leith had replaced original Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry from the 2017 series. The new series of The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 next month.
