Nigella Lawson set to join Bake Off judging panel as Prue Leith steps aside

Nigella Lawson is set to become a Bake Off judge, with reports suggesting she will replace Dame Prue Leith on The Great British Bake Off following Leith’s decision to step away after nine series on the programme.

Dame Prue, who joined the show in 2017 after its move to Channel 4, confirmed she would not return to the judging tent this summer, saying she planned to spend more time enjoying life away from filming. “Now feels like the right time to step back,” she said. “I’m 86, for goodness sake.”

Lawson has been widely tipped as a successor since Dame Prue reduced her involvement with the celebrity version of the show last year. Industry insiders suggest discussions are now close to completion, with a formal announcement expected from Channel 4 in due course.

A globally recognised food writer and broadcaster, Lawson rose to prominence with her debut book How to Eat in 1998, followed by the television series Nigella Bites. She has since published more than a dozen cookery books and fronted a range of programmes that combine accessible cooking with a distinctive on-screen warmth.

Her arrival would place her alongside long-standing judge Paul Hollywood, with presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding returning to host the series. The role is seen as a high-profile one, balancing technical authority with encouragement and rapport in the tent.

Dame Prue paid tribute to the programme and her colleagues, saying Bake Off had been “a fabulous part of my life” and that she would miss working with Hollywood, Hammond, Fielding and the wider production team. “Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have,” she said.

Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz praised Dame Prue’s contribution, describing her as a “joyous presence in the tent” whose judgment combined culinary authority with generosity and empathy for contestants.

Dame Prue, who was awarded a damehood in 2021 for services to food, broadcasting and charity, took over the role from Dame Mary Berry when the programme left the BBC, helping to steady a major transition period for the show.

Channel 4 has not yet confirmed the appointment, saying the new judge would be announced at a later date. Further details are expected ahead of filming later this year.

For background on the programme and its format, Channel 4 provides an overview of The Great British Bake Off on its official site, which outlines the judging process and production schedule.

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[Image Credit | Yahoo]

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