Filming for the new season of The Great British Bake Off is reportedly underway, but behind the scenes, a rift may be forming between judges Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson. Sources suggest that Lawson finds Hollywood's ostentatious arrival at the Welford Park set via helicopter jarring, describing it as "all rather cringe."

Hollywood, who commutes 120 miles from his home in Kent in his £500,000 Robinson Raven helicopter, is said to contrast sharply with Lawson, who arrives by car. "They aren't really getting on too well," a source told the Daily Mail. "Paul rather liked having [previous co-star] Prue Leith there. She was a stoic woman who has a terrific sense of humour."

Insiders describe Lawson as "sexy, classy and a national treasure," contrasting her "old money" background—her father was Chancellor of the Exchequer and her mother was an heiress—with Hollywood's perceived "new rich" status, despite his own considerable wealth. "Paul might be worth over £10 million himself, but [his behavior] is all a bit gauche and new rich," the source explained. "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."

Hollywood, who turned 60 in March, is accustomed to being the primary star of the show, a role he shared with original judges Mary Berry and later Prue Leith. "Paul is used to being the big star," a source stated. "While Mary was a national treasure, he was the one who got all the attention. But now Nigella has come along, that isn’t the case any more."

Lawson, an Oxford graduate with a successful career as a food writer and broadcaster, was recruited last year to replace Leith. Her hiring was considered a "super coup" by show bosses and Channel 4 executives, especially after a period where she had been largely out of the public eye following a highly publicized divorce and a trial involving her former assistants. Despite these past challenges, Lawson is said to be "adored" in the Bake Off tent.

The move to bring Lawson in is also seen as an effort to boost ratings, which reportedly fell by 500,000 viewers during the previous series. Her presence is expected to inject "sexiness" and wit into the show, with her suggestive innuendos potentially overshadowing Hollywood's familiar "soggy bottoms" commentary.

Lawson, who lives in a £5 million converted stables in Chelsea, has made occasional appearances on television programs abroad in recent years, including MasterChef Australia and My Kitchen Rules. Her last British series was "Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat" in 2020.

Meanwhile, Hollywood, who has been nicknamed "The Tom Cruise of Kent" by some locals for his high-powered vehicles, has also faced scrutiny for his helicopter usage. Complaints from neighbors about the noise led him to relocate his Robinson Raven to a nearby aerodrome. He currently lives a more tranquil life with his wife, Melissa Spalding, whom he married in 2023.

As the new series approaches its September premiere, the dynamic between Hollywood and Lawson is expected to be a focal point, with insiders predicting Hollywood may struggle with Lawson garnering significant attention. "When the new series starts in September it will be all about Nigella," one source commented. "There is no way he is going to like that."