Veteran food writer and television personality Nigella Lawson is reportedly in advanced discussions to join Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off as a judge following the announcement this week that Dame Prue Leith is stepping down after nine years on the show.
Leith, 86, confirmed on Wednesday that she would leave the beloved baking competition after judging more than 400 baking challenges since joining in 2017. In her statement, Leith said it felt like the right time to step back and pursue other interests, including gardening, and expressed gratitude to her co-judges and the production team.
According to sources familiar with negotiations, Lawson, 66, has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Leith and is in the “final stages” of contract discussions with Bake Off producers ahead of filming for the series expected later this year. A source quoted by industry outlets described Lawson as having the “cheeky banter” and international recognition suited to the show’s tone. Producers have not formally confirmed the arrangement.
Lawson is a well-known figure in British and international food media, having hosted multiple cooking programmes over decades and previously appeared as a judge on MasterChef Australia. Her involvement would make her the fourth judge in the mainline Bake Off series, joining long-time judge Paul Hollywood and following the tenures of Leith and original judge Mary Berry.
Channel 4 and the show’s production company Love Productions have acknowledged Leith’s departure as the end of a defining era for the series, highlighting her culinary expertise, warmth, and wit. They have said a replacement judge will be announced in due course.
The Great British Bake Off, which draws large audiences in the U.K. and internationally, is scheduled to return for another season in 2026, with production adjustments underway following Leith’s exit.
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