Nigella Lawson debuts as Bake Off judge replacing Prue Leith

Nigella Lawson made her debut as a judge on The Great British Bake Off on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, joining Paul Hollywood as the 17th series of the Channel 4 programme got underway with 12 amateur bakers competing. Lawson, 66, replaces Dame Prue Leith, who announced her exit in January 2026 after nine years on the show. Leith, now 86, said in her exit statement that the time had come to step back and spend summers enjoying her garden. Speaking later on The Shift podcast, she said her age had played a part, noting that had she stayed she would have asked for a ramp to get into her Winnebago. She also told The Spectator that a desire to work less and play more had influenced her decision, as the show's summer filming schedule had prevented her from taking summer holidays. Lawson was announced as Leith's replacement five days after the departure was made public. In her own statement, she called it daunting to follow in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry, but said she was bubbling with excitement and described the programme as a national treasure. Leith offered her approval, calling Lawson perfect and saying she did not need any advice from her.