Nigella Lawson admits she's 'really frightened' about joining Bake Off as she reveals her biggest concern about stepping into Prue Leith's shoes on This Morning - and can't resist cheeky swipe at Ben Shephard
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Nigella Lawson has admitted she's 'really frightened' about joining the Great British Bake Off judging line up - as she opened up on her biggest concern about taking over from Prue Leith.
The TV chef took to This Morning on Thursday, joining Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in the wake of the announcement about her new on-screen role on the Channel 4 show.
Nigella, 66, was confirmed as the new host after Prue announced she was leaving the show after nine years of judging alongside Paul Hollywood last week.
It's not the first time the chef has been a TV judge, having served as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia and a main judge on Australia's My Kitchen Rules.
Nonetheless, Nigella admitted she's still 'really frightened' about the idea of stepping into the role - which before Prue, 85, was previously held by Mary Berry.
She told Ben, 51, and Cat, 49, live on air: 'Prue is just fantastic, and Mary was fantastic before, so if I think about that I get really frightened.
Nigella Lawson has admitted she's 'really frightened' about joining the Great British Bake Off judging line up - as she opened up on her biggest concern about taking over from Prue Leith
Nigella joined Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley on This Morning
'[Channel 4] have given me the honour of offering me this and I just want to do it as well as I can, become a part of it, enjoy it, and I'm very excited about it.'
Nigella, who has also hosted her own cookery programmes including Nigella: Cook, Eat, Repeat and Nigella Express, added that she is taking the new role 'very seriously'.
She continued: 'I am a teeny bit frightened, I'd be lying if I didn't say that, I am excited and I'm taking it very seriously - but it's about the programme, it's an institution of national treasure status, and it's about the bakers.
'I just want to be there and be part of it. It's good to have a change at my time of life.'
The most important part of the show for Nigella is being able to offer up a softer opinion to the bakers than her co-star and fellow judge, Paul, 59 - and give the bakers a chance to shine.
Nigella added: 'I'm not someone who looks for fault, I look for pleasure - that is my basic, I can't say it's a philosophy, but my basic attitude in life.
'Paul Hollywood is Mr Technical and I'm all about the eating - if I see my job as eating, it's not too daunting, I can eat.
'But it is very much about [the bakers] the show, and that's what I love about it - there's a lot of competition programmes can be a bit hard-edged but this isn't, and we need that.'
Nigella, 66, was confirmed as the new host after Prue announced she was leaving the show after nine years of judging alongside Paul Hollywood last week
Prue announced she's leaving the Channel 4 show after nine years of judging alongside Paul Hollywood on Instagram last week
Even that isn't without trepidation, as Nigella admitted she will have to watch her 'clumsy' nature so as not to cause bakers any chaos in the tent.
She joked: 'I am the clumsiest person in the world so as long as I don't know any of their cake off the tables and the stands...'
Ben was quick to quiz Nigella on when fans could expect her to make her debut on Channel 4 screens - and she couldn't help but quip back at him that he'd have to wait.
'Do you know when you're starting?,' Ben asked, to which Nigella replied: 'Why should I tell you?' before clarifying: 'I do know a bit, I'm frightened of getting it wrong.
'It will start filming soon, though. I'll let you know the minute I'm in that tent!'
Meanwhile, Prue, who replaced former show judge Mary Berry in 2017, confirmed she was waving goodbye to the hit baking series, admitting it felt like the 'right time to step back' and make way for someone else to join the team.
Paul, 59, and show hosts Noel Fielding, 52, and Alison Hammond, 50, will remain on the show.
The TV chef, who replaced former show judge Mary Berry in 2017, confirmed she was waving goodbye to the hit baking series
Nigella has hosted many cookery shows over the years and is widely known for her innuendos and descriptive, sensual language
Prue took to Instagram to confirm her departure. She wrote: 'After nine series and judging more than 400 challenges, I have decided to step down as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
'Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4.
'But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden.
'Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.'
Love Productions, who are behind the making of the Channel 4 show, said: 'From her genuine expertise and encouragement of the bakers to her ability to drop innocent innuendos that reduce the entire tent (and the audience at home) to tears of laughter, Prue will always have a piece of Bake Off’s heart.'
While Channel 4's Ian Katz added: 'Prue has been a joyous presence in the tent, pairing absolute culinary authority with great generosity and empathy for the bakers.
'We are grateful for her passion, her wit, her ineffable style, and all the summers she spent in the tent. She leaves an indelible mark on the show and all its bakers.
'We will miss her wry, gentle judgement but look forward to working with her on new projects.'
Bake Off last aired in September 2025 and came to an end in November when student Jasmine Mitchell was crowned the winner.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX
