Nigella Lawson is set to return to major UK television programming after a six-year absence, appearing as a judge on the upcoming series of The Great British Bake Off. Lawson, 66, attended the show's official launch event in central London on Monday evening alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Lawson, who was announced as Prue Leith's successor in January, will make her debut in the famous white tent later this month. The 17th series of The Great British Bake Off is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 22, at 8 p.m. on Channel 4. Insiders suggest that show bosses are anticipating a significant viewership boost following Lawson's return.
At the launch event, Lawson wore a sleek, all-black ensemble with a zip front and a coordinating belt. She completed her look with smoky eye makeup and styled her brunette hair in voluminous waves. Hammond, 51, opted for a vibrant pink and black leopard-print dress, while Fielding, 53, sported a black cowboy hat and a leather jacket over a T-shirt. Hollywood, 60, chose a more casual pale blue shirt and jeans.
The cast gathered for photographs on artificial grass and behind a model of the show's iconic white tent. Lawson and Hammond were also pictured inside a recreation of the Bake Off kitchen, surrounded by baking equipment and colorful crockery.
Lawson's last major UK television programme was her BBC series Cook, Eat, Repeat in 2020. She has continued to appear on Australian television, including the cookery show My Kitchen Rules. Throughout her career, Lawson has published 12 cookery books, with her first, How To Eat, released in 1998, selling 300,000 copies. Her 2000 book, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, earned her the British Book Award for Author of the Year. Prior to her culinary career, Lawson worked in journalism, graduating from Oxford and joining The Sunday Times as deputy literary editor.
This year's lineup of contestants will include a 32-year-old drag king and a 67-year-old retired garment technologist. Amidst reports of potential on-set friction between Lawson and Hollywood during filming over the summer, sources close to the production noted that the pair have since maintained a friendly public image on social media.