Nigella Lawson has received glowing reviews from critics following her debut as a judge on the 17th series of The Great British Bake Off. The popular culinary competition is set to return to Channel 4 on 22 September, with the opening episode already earning significant acclaim during early press screenings.
Lawson joins the show as a replacement for Dame Prue Leith, who stepped down from her role to “work less and play more.” Early reactions suggest the transition has been a success. The Times noted that “lashings of Nigella Lawson help everyone rise to the occasion,” while the Telegraph remarked that she appears “more delectable than anything the contestants could whip up in a showstopper challenge.”
Ben Dowell of The Times highlighted Lawson’s presence, noting that she brings a unique charm to the tent. He specifically pointed to her delivery of lines like “I want it really sumptuous,” describing her voice as “highly seductive.” Dowell added that the production team seems delighted with the new addition, observing that “at times… it feels as if the programme is entertaining royalty,” and concluding that the show has found a new star.
The Telegraph’s Anita Singh also praised the casting, suggesting that Lawson is a natural fit for social media engagement. She described the chef as a “walking meme factory,” noting that her commentary—such as “I like a bit of goo” or “I’m hoping to find that wonderful frisson”—adds a distinct flair to the series.
Alongside the change in judging, the show has unveiled its latest group of contestants, a diverse lineup featuring a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser, and a drag artist. The new bakers include Clara, a 24-year-old marketing graduate from Hertfordshire, and Connie, a 63-year-old NHS hospital discharge lead who balances her work with running a music centre. Danni, 25, an HGV service centre administrator from Dorset, brings a love for foraging and tech-inspired decoration to the kitchen.
The cast also features Gabe, 32, a drag king and artist from the West Midlands who has a penchant for savoury bakes, and Gary, 67, a retired garment technologist from Nottinghamshire who keeps a variety of animals at his home. Molly, 31, an accessibility coordinator from London, joins the group with a passion for traditional flavours and Formula 1, while 22-year-old political economy student Moyin from Essex incorporates Nigerian ingredients like grains of paradise into his baking.
Rounding out the group are Mo, 21, a law student from the West Midlands who enjoys infusing Asian flavours into British classics; Nikki, 50, an advertising post-producer from London with a background as a podium dancer; and Shannon, 29, a project planner from Gloucestershire who describes her style as whimsical and rustic. Tom, 25, a hairdresser from West Yorkshire, brings his experience as a “Northern diva” to the competition, while Yannis, 28, a paediatric doctor from London, aims to challenge stereotypes about men in the kitchen by sharing his love of baking with his colleagues at the NICU. The report also notes that her every utterance comes over like a line from Emmanuelle. The report also notes that clara, 24, a marketing graduate from Hertfordshire, is originally from Portugal and only began baking two years ago. The report also notes that she believes “the first bite of a bake is always with the eyes. The report also notes that connie, 63, an NHS hospital discharge lead, is known as “the cake lady” and uses baking as a way to unwind after a hectic day. The report also notes that danni, 25, an HGV service centre administrator from Dorset, loves foraging for ingredients in the countryside and is also a tech enthusiast and enjoys decorating bakes with inspiration from video games and animation. The report also notes that gabe, 32, an artist, drag king and costume designer from the West Midlands is the self-styled “daddy of Birmingham drag” and discovered baking after watching the very first series of Bake Off aged 13. The report also notes that meat-filled bakes and an obsession with meringue, gabe has a preference for savoury. The report also notes that including sheep, horses, chickens and miniature pygmy goats and Shetland ponies, he lives with his wife Donna and their countryside home is filled with animals.
Comments