Bake Off returns with Nigella Lawson and all-English line-up

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8pm for its 17th series, with 12 new bakers and Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood on the judging panel in place of Dame Prue Leith. Lawson steps in after Leith announced last year that she was leaving the show following nine years as a judge. Lawson said in a statement released by Channel 4 that it was daunting to follow in the footsteps of Leith and Mary Berry, but that she was also bubbling with excitement, calling the programme a national treasure and a huge honour to be entrusted with. Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as hosts. The opening episode is Cake Week, in which Lawson sets the first signature challenge, asking contestants to put a fresh spin on her chocolate Guinness cake. She also sets the technical challenge, a coffee and walnut cake, while the showstopper asks bakers to create a self-portrait out of cake. The 12 contestants, ranging in age from 21 to 67, include students, an NHS hospital discharge lead, a paediatric doctor, a hairdresser and a drag king. The series is scheduled to run for 10 episodes, with the grand final on November 24.