Prue Leith Shares Advice for 'Frightened' Nigella Lawson Ahead of Great British Bake Off Debut
Dame Prue Leith has offered words of wisdom to Nigella Lawson as she prepares to step into the judging role on Great British Bake Off. It was announced in January that the celebrity chef will succeed Leith for the next series of the popular baking competition, marking a significant change for the show.
Leith's Departure and Lawson's Appointment
Leith announced she would be stepping down from the post she has held for nine years, a role she took over from Dame Mary Berry in 2017. This was the same year the show moved from the BBC to its new home on Channel 4. Lawson admitted last month that "it's daunting to be following in the footsteps" of both Leith and Berry, expressing some nervousness about the high-profile position.
Leith's Practical Tips for Lawson
In a new interview with The Telegraph, Leith was asked if she had any tips for her successor. She replied simply: "Just enjoy it, because you'll never have a nicer job." Another key piece of advice she added was to always double-check before posting anything on social media. This is a reference to the time Leith prematurely tweeted about the winner of the 2017 series before it aired on TV, a mistake she made while traveling in Bhutan and getting confused over time zones.
"I felt like an absolute idiot," Leith told The Telegraph. "It was horrible at the time, although everybody involved in the show was remarkably nice about it." Despite this blunder, Leith's tenure has been widely praised, and she leaves behind a legacy of warmth and expertise on the show.
Leith's Viewing Habits and Lawson's Career Focus
Interestingly, Leith revealed that she will not be tuning in to watch Lawson on the show, as she has never watched Bake Off before she joined or during her own tenure. "I hardly ever watch telly, and if I do it'll be a travel programme, because my husband likes things involving people going to extraordinary places," she explained.
Lawson's arrival to Bake Off marks her most high-profile gig in the UK in years. Recently, she has focused on her TV career in Australia, where she's been a regular guest on shows like MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules. Her appointment has been praised by many fans of the series, including The Independent's Rachel McGrath, who called it an "ingenious casting for a show that's gone a bit stale."
Lawson's Background and Expected Impact
Lawson, who published her first cookery book, How to Eat, in 1998, and has presented numerous BBC specials since Nigella Bites aired in 1999, is expected to bring her signature flair and cooking innuendos into the Bake Off tent next season. Her unique style and extensive experience in the culinary world are anticipated to refresh the show's dynamic.
The Great British Bake Off is expected to return later this year, following a celebrity edition confirmed for spring, featuring stars including Molly-Mae Hague. This transition period highlights the ongoing evolution of one of Britain's most beloved television programmes, with Lawson poised to make her mark as the new judge.
