“I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come. I wish the marvellous [former judge] Prue [Leith] all the best and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!”
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz also shared his excitement about Lawson joining the show, Metro reported.
“Nigella brings an incomparable combination of warmth, expertise and sophistication to the tent, and this summer’s series will be as mouthwatering a prospect as her chocolate Guinness cake.”
The 66-year-old has previously been a judge on MasterChef Australia and starred in several advertisements for Kiwi chocolatiers Whittaker’s.
Whittaker’s chief marketing manager Phillip Poole credited Lawson with elevating the brand’s “world-class chocolate” on the global stage.
Her debut into the world of the Great British Bake Off excited fans in the comments, who also shared their sadness at losing previous judge Dame Prue Leith.
Leith recently stepped down from her role after nine seasons on the show, having taken over from the iconic Dame Mary Berry in 2016.
She said while Bake Off had been a “fabulous” part of her life, it was time to move on.
“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.”
Reacting to the news of Lawson’s casting, Leith praised her replacement as “sassy, fun and she knows her onions – and her croissants, cake and crumble”.
