New Judges Bring Excitement to The Great British Bake Off
Alison Hammond has shared insights into the dynamic between Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson, the new judge on The Great British Bake Off. The TV chef was announced as Prue Leith’s replacement on the popular Channel 4 show earlier this year. Since then, the chemistry between Paul, 60, and Nigella, 66, has been a topic of much discussion.
The pair made headlines when they posted a serious-looking selfie on Instagram for April Fool’s Day, pretending to have been cast in a German crime drama. Now that filming is underway for the new series, Alison has revealed that their on-screen chemistry is “unbelievable.” This comment was met with a suggestive “ooo” sound from Lorraine Kelly, prompting Alison to clarify, “not in that sort of way.”
During a chat on her ITV show, Alison described Nigella as “lovely” and “incredible.” She continued: “Obviously we’ve started, so I’ve been watching. I’m telling you, the chemistry between her and Paul is unbelievable.” Referring to a blown-up photo of the pair on a screen, she added, “Look, you can feel it, can’t you? Don’t they look good-looking? Look at them!”
Alison elaborated further, saying: “Honestly, they’re so good together. Because I’ll be honest with you, they don’t always agree, and it’s so good!” Lorraine agreed, noting that such contention can work well.
Alison has co-hosted the show since 2023, when she joined to replace Matt Lucas, who had been a fixture since 2020. She now chats with amateur bakers alongside co-presenter Noel Fielding, who came on board in 2017.
The presenting duo aren’t afraid of an innuendo or two, and with the addition of Nigella, the show is bound to be filled with eyebrow-raising moments. When the How To Be A Domestic Goddess author was announced as a judge, she said she was “uncharacteristically rather lost for words.” She went on: “Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement. The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it. I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come. I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!”
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