Key facts
- Nigella Lawson has joined The Great British Bake Off as a judge, replacing Dame Prue Leith.
- Critics described Lawson as the "icing on the cake" for the show's new series.
- The Telegraph said Lawson gives the series a "new lease of life", while Digital Spy called her a "brilliant addition".
- The Independent noted the show "wastes Nigella's prodigious charms and misses chance for a true revamp".
- Former Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno said Lawson "did produce a step change" to the show.
- Metro described the launch episode as "one of the most disastrous openers ever" in terms of the cakes baked.
TV critics have offered mixed reviews for the latest series of The Great British Bake Off, with many focusing on the debut of new judge Nigella Lawson. Lawson has taken over from Dame Prue Leith, who departed the show after nearly a decade.
The Telegraph described Lawson as giving the Channel 4 series a "new lease of life," and Digital Spy agreed she was a "brilliant addition" to the judging panel alongside Paul Hollywood. Former Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno told BBC Radio 4's Today that Lawson "did produce a step change" and was a "nice fit with the ethos of the programme," noting her balance between capturing the feeling of a cake and Paul Hollywood's technical scrutiny.
The Guardian's Lucy Mangan awarded the episode five stars, stating Lawson "moves through Bake Off dispensing words of wisdom, generous praise and gentle criticism." Mangan added that Lawson brings "glamour, intelligence and poise" and a "hefty dollop of innuendo," while also being supportive and offering helpful advice.
However, the Independent's Nick Hilton awarded the episode two stars, suggesting the show "wastes Nigella's prodigious charms and misses chance for a true revamp." Hilton argued that the show's format is "very tired" and that producers missed an opportunity for a "harder refresh," instead having Lawson "bend to the will of the programme."
Several critics also noted that Lawson, known for her innuendo, was more reserved in her debut. Radio Times's Jane Rackham observed that Lawson "has cut back on the sauce," and Digital Spy's Janet A Leigh agreed that Lawson "gently rebuffed" opportunities for playful, flirtatious commentary, instead focusing on celebrating food and expanding the audience's understanding of flavours.
Metro's Adam Miller described the launch episode's baking as "one of the most disastrous openers ever," but praised Lawson for making the show "fresher than ever" and potentially securing another decade of success.