Bake Off legend Nadiya Hussain delivers verdict on Nigella Lawson casting and why she thinks show has lost its “magic”

Nadiya Hussain, who previously won The Great British Bake Off, has shared her thoughts on Nigella Lawson becoming a judge on the Channel 4 series.

Paul Lawson will be the new judge on the show, taking over from Prue Leith, who announced her departure earlier this year. Leith herself joined the judging panel in 2017 when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4, following Mary Berry’s exit.

The famous chef and television personality will be a judge on the show alongside Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding when the new season begins later this year.

Hussain recently told TopMob in an interview that Nigella has big shoes to fill after taking over from Prue.

She explained that it’s easy to become overly formal as you get older, but she admires Prue’s playful and rebellious side. She hopes to have that same spirit when she reaches an older age.

Hussain became well-known after winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015. He then hosted several popular food programs on the BBC, such as Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, Nadiya Bakes, Time to Eat, and Nadiya’s Everyday Baking.

She’s a successful author too, having written several popular cookbooks like ‘Nadiya’s Kitchen’ and ‘Cook Once, Eat Twice’.

In January, Leith revealed she was leaving The Great British Bake Off after nine years, explaining it felt like the right moment to move on. She also expressed a desire to dedicate more time to personal pursuits, particularly enjoying her garden during the summer months.

You can read the complete interview with Nadiya Hussain in the March 2026 issue of TopMob magazine, available on Tuesday, March 10th. It will also be available on the TopMob website the day before.

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 later this year.

Authors

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.

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2026-03-09 14:40