'Great British Baking Show' taps Nigella Lawson as new judge after Prue Leith's exit

When “The Great British Baking Show” returns for different play aboriginal this year, the structure volition invited a caller justice alongside the freshest batch of competitors.

British cookbook writer and TV property Nigella Lawson volition articulation the beloved baking contention arsenic a judge, succeeding Prue Leith, who announced her departure from the bid past week. “The Great British Baking Show” (alternatively titled “The Great British Bake-Off” successful the United Kingdom) unveiled Lawson’s assignment Monday connected Instagram. She volition co-judge alongside longtime “Bake Show” fixture and breadstuff adept Paul Hollywood.

“I’m uncharacteristically alternatively mislaid for words close now!” Lawson said successful a associated Instagram post. “Of people it’s daunting to beryllium pursuing successful the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry earlier her, large dames both, but I’m besides bubbling with excitement.”

“The Great British Baking Show” archetypal aired connected the BBC successful 2010, with Hollywood judging competitors’ bakes alongside Mary Berry. Berry departed the bid erstwhile it moved from the BBC to commercialized broadcaster Channel 4 and Leith began her tenure successful 2017.

During her “Baking Show” days, Leith became known among fans and competitors for her affinity for boozy bakes and colorful manner and accessories. Notably, she and Hollywood co-judged the bid successful its 11th season, which was filmed and aired amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leith, announcing her exit, said “Bake Off has been a fabulous portion of my beingness for the past 9 years” and looked guardant to a caller section successful her life.

“But present feels similar the close clip to measurement backmost (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s truthful overmuch I’d similar to do, not slightest walk summers enjoying my garden,” she wrote, adding aboriginal successful her caption that she believes her successor volition “love [the show] arsenic overmuch arsenic I have.”

Lawson, a erstwhile writer and Margaret Thatcher furniture subordinate Nigel Lawson’s daughter, comes to “Baking Show” with immoderate past with Channel 4. The broadcast aired her bid “Nigella Bites” successful the precocious 1990s and aboriginal aughts successful tandem with the merchandise of her publication of the aforesaid name.

Her tv credits besides see hosting her bid “Nigella Feasts,” “Nigella Express,” “Nigella Kitchen” and “Nigellissima” and judging connected shows “Iron Chef America,” “The Taste” alongside Anthony Bourdain and “MasterChef Australia,” among others.

She has penned much than a twelve books, astir precocious 2020’s “Cook, Eat, Repeat.”

“The Great British Bake Off is much than a tv programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a immense honour to beryllium entrusted with it,” she said connected Monday. “I’m conscionable thrilled to beryllium joining the squad and each the caller bakers to come. I privation the marvellous Prue each the best, and americium giddily grateful for the opportunity!”