The Great British Bake Off has unveiled its new judging and presenting team, featuring celebrity chef Nigella Lawson stepping in as a replacement for Prue Leith. Lawson joins returning judges Paul Hollywood and presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond for the upcoming series.
The show released a first look at the foursome in a promotional image, where they appear to be in good spirits. Lawson is seen in a black dress, Hammond in a colorful belted dress, Fielding in a skull-print shirt, and Hollywood in a blue shirt and jeans.
Lawson's addition to the panel comes after reports suggested a strained dynamic between her and co-judge Paul Hollywood. Despite these claims, the promotional image shows the new team posing closely together. Earlier in the year, Lawson shared a humorous April Fools' joke on Instagram, posting a selfie with Hollywood that playfully suggested they were investigating crimes in the Ruhr Valley rather than judging a baking competition. The post garnered a significant positive reaction from fans, with many expressing a desire for a Bake Off-themed detective show.
Paul Hollywood has been a judge on The Great British Bake Off since its inception in 2010. He was initially joined by Mary Berry when the program aired on the BBC until 2016. Prue Leith joined the show in 2017 when it moved to Channel 4. In January, it was confirmed that Lawson would take over from Leith, who announced her departure after nine years.
Leith decided to leave the show to "work less and play more," noting that the filming schedule for Bake Off and its international offshoots prevented her from taking summer holidays. She expressed her approval of Lawson as her successor, stating that Lawson is "sassy, fun and she knows her onions."
Lawson, who is taking on the role for series 17, stated she was "bubbling with excitement" to join the team. She also acknowledged the daunting task of following in the footsteps of Leith and original judge Dame Mary Berry, calling The Great British Bake Off a "National Treasure" and expressing gratitude for the opportunity. The new series is set to begin filming in April, with the broadcast date later this year.