Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood... Will the Bake Off kitchen be big enough for both of them, asks KATIE HIND

For a man famed for his ego, sharing The Great British Bake Off tent with the very glamorous Nigella Lawson, a national treasure, was never going to be plain sailing.

Paul Hollywood’s previous sidekicks, Mary Berry and Prue Leith, were both wonderful, iconic women – but neither took the spotlight away from the show’s longest serving judge.

But leading up to the 17th series, which launches on Channel 4 on September 22, Paul and Nigella have been hit by rumours that they haven’t exactly gelled while working on the much-loved show in recent months.

Nigella, daughter of the late Tory chancellor Nigel Lawson, was said to view Paul’s habit of using his helicopter to commute from the Kent village where he lives to the famous tent in Welford Park, Berkshire, was rather gauche and silly.

But any differences between them during filming would have played out away from the public glare over the summer when they pre-recorded the show with 12 new contestants.

Last night, however, Paul and Nigella were seen together for the first time as Channel 4 launched the new series at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the British Army, in the City of London.

Leading up to the 17th series, which launches on Channel 4 on September 22, Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson have been hit by rumours that they haven’t exactly gelled 

Last night Paul and Nigella were seen together for the first time as Channel 4 launched the new series (Paul and Nigella pictured with hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding) 

During a Q&A, the pair – alongside fellow hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding – put on a united front.

They posed together on the fake green grass ‘red carpet’ although I noticed they did not stand next to each other.

‘Nigella fitted in beautifully,’ said Paul during the Q&A. While the How To Eat author said that they ‘all talked non-stop’ and insisted the ‘four of us get on very well’.

There was even talk of Noel and Paul going round to Nigella’s house – although there was no mention as to whether it was by helicopter.

Since then, Paul and Nigella have tried to make it look as though they are the best of friends, regularly ‘liking’ and commenting on each other’s Instagram posts.

But judging by the edited version of the first episode, which we were shown last night, they will struggle to prove to fans that there is any real chemistry between them.

It’s left to Alison, rather than Paul, to introduce new judge Nigella to viewers as ‘the legendary; the iconic Nigella Lawson’.

Dressed in a navy jumpsuit with not a wrinkle in sight, Nigella, 66, beams, but Paul, 60, remains rather stony-faced as he’s teased by Alison and Noel. 

Even with their jokes about his ego, he fails to crack a smile. And it is unlikely his mood would have improved on seeing how much airtime is given over to ‘our Queen’ as Alison calls her.

The first episode could not be more focused on Nigella. The bakers are tasked with making a chocolate stout cake, which feels like a direct nod to Nigella’s famous Guinness cake. 

Clearly Channel 4 are keen to make the most of their new, big money signing.

For some weeks now, those involved in the show have been trying to play down the idea that Nigella and Paul are at loggerheads, promising that when I saw them together, I would see for myself. 

But last night, Paul seemed rather miffed by all the excitement that Nigella Lawson was at his side.

Before they arrived, the broadcaster’s senior commissioning editor Vivienne Molokwu spoke about her joy at signing Nigella.

She described the food writer as the show’s ‘extra magic ingredient’ – a comment which is likely to irk Paul.

‘I think you’ll agree that she is a wonderful addition to the team and brings a unique sound and perspective and something you didn’t know you needed,’ said Vivienne.

It has been six years since her last major TV series – Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat – which was produced for the BBC, and she has barely been seen on our screens since.

Instead, the mother of two has been making shows for Australian television, including My Kitchen Rules, and as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia.

During a Q&A, the pair put on a united front as Paul gushed ‘Nigella fitted in beautifully,’ while the Nigella said that they ‘all talked non-stop’ and insisted the ‘four of us get on very well’

It has been six years since her last major TV series – Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat – which was produced for the BBC, and she has barely been seen on our screens since

The cast of Bake Off 2026 were announced on Monday 

Nigella, who was married to her second husband Charles Saatchi until he was caught on camera with a hand around her neck outside Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair in 2013, was announced as Prue’s successor in January. 

It followed the popular cookery writer’s decision to step down as a Bake Off judge after nine years.

Channel 4, and the show’s highly rated creator, Love Productions, hope that Nigella will boost ratings.

She is also said to have got on ‘tremendously well’ with this year’s bakers, who were also unveiled to the public last night.

They include a 32-year-old self-described ‘drag king’, who lives in the West Midlands with two partners, and a 67-year-old retired garment technologist.

Nigella, who first husband was journalist John Diamond, who died from cancer aged 47 in 2001, has published 12 cookery books throughout her career and hosted almost a dozen television programmes, including her own – albeit short-lived – chat show for ITV in 2005.

In 1998, she published How To Eat, her first cookery book, which sold 300,000 copies and made her a best-selling author. 

Just two years later, she released How To Be A Domestic Goddess which won the British Book Award for Author of the Year. She started out in journalism, having joined the Sunday Times as its deputy literary editor after graduating from Oxford University.

With such a string of accolades, perhaps Paul could be forgiven if he felt she’d stolen some of his thunder.