Nigella Lawson is set to make her return to major UK television after a six-year absence, joining the judging panel of The Great British Bake Off. She will appear alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding for the show's 17th series, scheduled to premiere on September 22.
Lawson, 66, attended the official launch event for the series in central London, posing with her co-stars. She was announced as Prue Leith's successor in January, following Leith's departure after nine years on the program. This marks Lawson's first major UK television role since her 2020 series "Cook, Eat, Repeat." She has, however, remained a regular on Australian television, appearing on "My Kitchen Rules."
Lawson, a best-selling author with 12 cookery books to her name, was known for her early work including "How To Eat" (1998) and "How to Be a Domestic Goddess" (2000), the latter earning her the British Book Award for Author of the Year. Her career began in journalism, working as the deputy literary editor for The Sunday Times.
At the launch event, Lawson wore a sleek black ensemble, while host Alison Hammond opted for a vibrant pink and black leopard-print dress. Judge Paul Hollywood appeared in a pale blue shirt and jeans, and host Noel Fielding sported his characteristic flamboyant style with a black cowboy hat and a leather jacket.
Filming for the upcoming series reportedly took place throughout the summer. Insiders have suggested potential tensions between Lawson and Hollywood during production, with one source claiming Lawson found Hollywood's helicopter travel to the set to be "gauche." However, the pair have since appeared to maintain a friendly demeanor on social media.
This year's lineup of contestants will include a 32-year-old 'drag king' and a 67-year-old retired garment technologist. Channel 4 is reportedly anticipating a significant viewership boost for the 17th series, driven by Lawson's participation.
