Nigella Lawson has been confirmed as the replacement for Dame Prue Leith on The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4 announced on Monday. The celebrity chef will join the baking competition for its next series, succeeding Leith who stepped down earlier this month.
Lawson expressed her excitement and humility at the appointment, stating she was “uncharacteristically rather lost for words” and acknowledged the challenge of following both Leith and Dame Mary Berry. “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,” she said.
Leith, 86, announced her departure on 21 January, saying she felt it was “the right time to step back” to enjoy more time with family and her garden. She joined the show in 2017 after its move from BBC to Channel 4, replacing Berry alongside judge Paul Hollywood.
Leith’s tenure included a memorable blunder in her first year when she accidentally revealed the winner hours before the finale aired. Despite that, she became a beloved figure for her kind critiques and style. She had previously considered quitting in 2024 due to filming demands but stayed after schedule changes.
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz praised Leith as “a joyous presence in the tent” and welcomed Lawson, who is known for her cookery books and TV specials. Lawson’s recent work includes appearances on Australian shows MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules.
