Nigella Lawson is joining The Great British Bake Off as a new judge, stepping into the role after Prue Leith stepped down following nine seasons on the baking show. Alison Hammond, who discussed the new series while appearing on ITV's Lorraine, said Lawson would fit in quickly with the programme’s familiar rhythm.

Hammond did not hide her enthusiasm. “She’s so lovely. Nigella is incredible,” she said, adding: “I'm telling you, the chemistry between her and Paul is unbelievable.” She also said the pair “don't always agree,” a detail that suggests the new judging line-up may bring more friction than the show’s usual polished charm.

The Great British Bake Off has long relied on a steady formula: a gentle competition, a pair of judges, and presenters who keep the mood light while contestants face pressure under the tent. Lawson’s arrival marks a notable change for the 17th series, but one that keeps the show anchored in a recognisable pattern. She was confirmed to be replacing Leith, whose departure ends a nine-season run that helped define the programme’s tone.

Lawson’s own words point to why producers may have seen her as a natural fit. Earlier in the year, when she appeared on This Morning, she said: “I feel that I'm not someone who looks for fault. I look for pleasure as my basic attitude in life.” That outlook mirrors the kind of TV presence Bake Off has always favoured: warm, observant and more interested in delight than in demolition.

The tension now is not whether Lawson belongs on the show — Hammond’s comments make that clear — but how much she will shift its dynamic alongside Paul Hollywood. Bake Off has survived by avoiding major disruption to its judging formula, and Lawson’s addition brings a different kind of authority to a format built on consistency. The 17th series is now carrying the weight of that change before the first cake is even sliced.

What happens next is straightforward. Viewers will get their first full look at Lawson in the judging tent when the new series arrives, and the early question is whether the warmth Hammond described translates into the on-screen balance the show needs. If it does, Bake Off will have managed another careful reinvention without losing the comfort that made it a fixture in the first place.