Ready, set, bake!

This year’s series of The Great British Bake Off introduces a crucial new ingredient to its tried and trusted recipe. With the departure of long-standing judge Dame Prue Leith, Channel 4 have recruited legendary TV cook Nigella Lawson to take her place alongside Paul Hollywood.

“It’s fair to say we’ve just made the hottest Bake Off ever,” laughs executive producer Jenna Mansfield, who caught up with RT shortly after completing filming on the new series. “The chemistry between Paul and Nigella was instant. It felt like she had always been part of the show.”

That doesn’t mean we should expect the same dynamic Hollywood had with Leith and Mary Berry before her. “Paul and Nigella come at judging from completely different perspectives,” Mansfield says. “Paul has an incredible technical eye and knows exactly what he’s looking for. Nigella has an instinctive response to food – the flavour, the pleasure of eating, how it makes you feel. That creates some interesting conversations around the judging table. They complement each other brilliantly.”

Alongside the new judge, Mansfield promises the usual varied cast of amateur bakers, with theme weeks, dough disasters and pastry triumphs to look forward to. “We’ve got the most fantastic intake of bakers,” she says. “They’ve really bonded as a group. There’s such a lovely warmth between them.”

She adds: “The bakers loved Nigella. And so did the crew – she slotted straight into the Bake Off family.”

The new series of The Great British Bake Off begins on Channel 4 next month

Authors

Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.