Mary Berry delivers her verdict on Nigella Lawson joining GBBO in judging role

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Mary Berry, a former judge on The Great British Bake Off, has given her opinion on Nigella Lawson becoming a member of the show’s cast.

Mary Berry was a judge on the popular baking show, alongside Paul Hollywood, from when it first started on the BBC in 2010 until 2016.

I remember when The Great British Bake Off moved to Channel 4 back in 2017 – it was a big moment. Sadly, that’s when Mary Berry announced she was leaving the show, and of course, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, the hilarious presenting duo, decided to move on as well. It really felt like an era was ending.

After Mary Berry left, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig became the new co-hosts, and Prue Leith joined as a judge. Sandi Toksvig later left the show and was replaced by Matt Lucas, who was then succeeded by Alison Hammond.

Nigella Lawson will be the new host of the show, replacing Prue Leith who is leaving after almost ten years.

At the TopMob Covers Party 2026, Berry expressed her happiness about Lawson joining the judging panel of the cooking show, saying she was “delighted” with the announcement.

She also mentioned she was really happy to hear that Nigella Lawson will be the new judge on Bake Off.

“It will give Bake Off a wonderful new flavour, and Paul and her will get on like a house on fire.”

When asked about the qualities of a good Bake Off judge, Mary Berry said it’s important to be skilled at judging, but also fair, kind, and encouraging to all the bakers.

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Earlier this month, Leith revealed she’s leaving The Great British Bake Off after nine years, describing it as “the best job in the world.”

Leith shared with The Spectator that she thinks Nigella is “really nice, very glamorous, and incredibly intelligent, sexy, and sassy.” She also expressed relief that Nigella wasn’t competing for the same job nine years prior.

The Great British Bake Off returns later this year.

Don’t miss The Great British Bake Off! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-01-30 13:37