Nigella Lawson has made her judging debut in the first trailer for the upcoming season of The Great British Bake Off. The British chef, 66, appears alongside hosts Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding, and fellow judge Paul Hollywood. Lawson was reportedly brought in to boost viewership after the previous series saw a decline.
Despite the excitement surrounding her addition, reports have surfaced suggesting a less-than-harmonious relationship between Lawson and Hollywood. According to a recent report, Lawson finds Hollywood's method of traveling to work via helicopter to be "gauche."
The trailer offers a glimpse of the judges interacting in the iconic tent. In one scene, Hollywood reaches for a pastry, only for Fielding to playfully stop him. Hammond then interjects with "ladies first," prompting Lawson to make her entrance by clearing her throat before pushing the others aside and taking a fork to sample the bake.
Fans have reacted enthusiastically to Lawson's appearance. Social media comments included "What an entrance," "Come on Nigella, show them who's boss. Cannot wait," and "Make way for the queen."
This debut follows a notable social media moment in April where Lawson and Hollywood appeared to be getting along famously. Lawson shared a humorous April Fools' Day post on Instagram, posing with Hollywood and joking that they were not judges on Bake Off but rather detectives solving crimes in Germany. The post, which garnered significant fan engagement, featured Lawson in a white blazer with smoky eyes and Hollywood in a white shirt and black jacket.
The Great British Bake Off, which premiered in 2010, has seen shifts in its judging panel. Paul Hollywood has been a judge since the show's inception, initially alongside Mary Berry until 2016. Prue Leith joined in 2017 when the show moved to Channel 4. Lawson was confirmed as a new judge in January, stepping in after Leith announced her departure following nine years on the program.
Lawson has acknowledged the pressure of succeeding esteemed judges. In a statement, she expressed a mixture of trepidation and excitement, calling The Great British Bake Off a "National Treasure" and deeming it a "huge honor to be entrusted with it." She also conveyed her gratitude for the opportunity and wished Leith well.