Nigella Lawson ‘warmer’ to Bake Off contestants than Mary Berry, says Paul Hollywood 

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 tonight at 8pm. 

Paul Hollywood has described his new Bake Off co-judge Nigella Lawson as being “warmer” to the contestants than Mary Berry. Picture: Matt Crossick/PA

Paul Hollywood has described his new Bake Off co-judge Nigella Lawson as being “warmer” to the contestants than Mary Berry.

The TV cook, 66, has replaced Prue Leith on the series, who herself replaced Berry in 2017.

Speaking to the Radio Times about his on-screen chemistry with Lawson, Hollywood described her as a “very warm person, especially to the bakers”.

He said: “There’s a very nurturing nature to Nigella, which was quite strong this year.” 

Comparing Lawson to the previous judges, he continued: “Mary was different to Prue, Prue was different to Nigella and Nigella is different to Mary.

“They each bring their own character to it, and Nigella is a very warm person, especially to the bakers. More so than Mary was and I think more akin to Prue.

“There’s a very nurturing nature to Nigella, which was quite strong this year. Whereas me, I suppose I’m the constant. 

“So I remain in my position of being constructively critical.” 

Lawson has replaced Leith who announced in January that she was stepping down after nine seasons on the show.

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In 2017 Leith had replaced Berry, who worked on the show for six years.

Hollywood, 60, has appeared on the series since it launched in 2010, first screening on the BBC before moving to Channel 4.

It is currently hosted by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.

Approach to judging 

Speaking to the Press Association recently, Lawson described her approach to judging on the series.

“I always try to look for the positive as well, because you never want criticism to make people feel inadequate,” she said.

“I think it’s very important to let someone know what they’re doing well and what needs to be a bit better. But ultimately, I just thought, ‘Oh, I’m getting really bad at telling people something isn’t right’.

“But ultimately, you can’t do anything except be honest, because all you have to go on is your honest reaction.

“Does it help someone to say something worked if it didn’t? They’re there to get better. What was fascinating to me was seeing, over the course of the whole series, how people learn.

“As we know in life generally, making mistakes is not what matters; it’s actually learning from them.” 

One of the most recognisable faces on TV, Lawson became a household name in the late 1990s with her hugely successful cookbooks and cookery shows.

The Oxford graduate worked as a journalist before becoming a food writer.

Her first cookery book, How To Eat, became a bestseller, while her follow-up, How To Be A Domestic Goddess – described as the book that “kick-started the cupcake revolution” – was also hugely successful, winning her the British Book Award for author of the year in 2001.

She then starred in the Channel 4 show Nigella Bites, before she crossed over to ITV and then the BBC.

Lawson has also appeared on MasterChef Australia and MasterChef US, as well as acting as a judge on two seasons of the Australian cooking game show My Kitchen Rules.

The Great British Bake Off starts on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.