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By Michaela Gordoni
Nigella Lawson will star as a new judge on THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, also known as THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF.
Lawson, who’s cooked on British TV for decades, will replace Prue Leith, who’s been on the show since 2017 until now, Deadline reported this week.
Lawson said: “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.”
“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. 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,” she said.
Related: This Beloved Judge Is Saying Goodbye to THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF
Lawson is known for her cookbooks, How to Eat and How to Be a Domestic Goddess, and her shows, NIGELLA BITES, NIGELLA FEASTS and NIGELLA EXPRESS. She’s also appeared on TOP CHEF, MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA, THE TASTE, MASTERCHEF U.S. and MY KITCHEN RULES.
Leith, who is “86 for goodness sake!” announced her departure last week.
“BAKE OFF has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4,” she said.
“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,” she continued in a statement. “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.” She added that Lawson is “sassy, fun and she knows her onions — and her croissants, cake and crumble.”
The show airs on Channel 4 in the U.K., but American viewers can find it on Netflix.
Channel 4’s Ian Katz said, “We’re incredibly excited about the marriage of two great British icons: BAKE OFF and Nigella…this summer’s series will be as mouthwatering a prospect as her chocolate Guinness cake.”
Tech Advisor reports the next season of the show, Season 17, will likely come out around the same time as previous years, in September.
Previous years featured a special, THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR STAND UP TO CANCER, in the spring, but it’s unclear if that will happen this year or not.
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