After the surprise news last week that Dame Prue Leith will be stepping away from The Great British Bake Off after nearly a decade, rumours began swirling as to who will take her place, with food writer and television cooking star Nigella Lawson’s name thrown into the mix. Now, less than a week on from Prue’s surprise departure, Nigella has been confirmed as her replacement, with Channel 4 and Love Productions first announcing the news.
“I’m uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now! Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement,” Nigella gushed about joining as the new judge.
Nigella says it’s a ‘huge honour’
Nigella is joining some big names in the Bake Off family. Food writer and chef Dame Mary Berry was a judge for seven seasons from 2010 up until 2016 when she handed over the role to Prue. Nigella will star on the reality baking series alongside the other current judge, celebrity chef Paul Hollywood, and hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.
“The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a national treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it,” Nigella gushed about her new TV gig.
“I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!”
Prue said she is “thrilled that Nigella is to experience brilliant Bake Off”. She added: “She’s sassy, fun and she knows her onions — and her croissants, cake and crumble.”
The big announcement was also shared in a joint Instagram post by the official Great British Bake Off account and Nigella herself. In the comments section, Nigella added: “Thank you, thank you, thank you — I can’t wait to enter the Tent of Dreams!”
Prue’s surprise departure
After being part of The Great British Bake Off for nine seasons since 2017, Prue surprised fans in January with the news she’s handing over the reins.
“After nine series and judging more than 400 challenges, I have decided to step down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off,” she announced her departure in a lengthy Instagram post with a photo of her and her longtime fellow judge, Paul.
Prue said the show had been a “fabulous part of [her] life for the last nine years” and she had “genuinely loved it”. She also gushed about her fellow judge and hosts Alison and Noel, noting she would surely miss working with them.
© Instagram/Channel 4“But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden. Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.”
Prue opened up about her friendship with fellow judge Paul in an exclusive chat with HELLO! in 2022. “I think the thing that would really surprise fans is what an absolute softie he really is, because he looks so stern with that terrifying blue stare,” she told us. “But he is the one who, very often, you see with his arm around the baker who’s upset because she’s done something terrible.”
“He’s really friendly and he teases me rotten,” she said, adding that he “carries on as if I’m his great, great grandmother”.
“He’ll say things like, ‘Do you want a cup of tea, dearie?’ I’m in my 80s, so he could only maybe be my grandson, but he treats me as if I were a very frail old lady! But I love his concern for me.”
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