Ex-Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry reveals what she really thinks about Nigella Lawson doing her old job
Nigella Lawson replaced Dame Prue Leith as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, a role originally held by Dame Mary Berry.
Former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry has shared her thoughts on Nigella Lawson doing her old job.
The 91-year-old star was a beloved face on the show from 2010 until 2016, when she quit as the programme moved from the BBC to Channel 4, with Dame Prue Leith, 86, taking over and joining Paul Hollywood, 60, the following year before stepping down in January to make way for Nigella, 66.
Per The Sun, Mary was on stage at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, when she said: "Bake Off is a wonderful format. We started it off not knowing what we were doing, and then Prue has been doing it, and it is a format, and you fit into it.
"I am delighted Nigella is there.
"She has got to keep control of a certain person. Paul needs handling, and he has this handshake which keeps appearing."
Nigella made her debut as a judge when the current series of The Great British Bake Off started on September 22.
And Mary thinks she has breathed "new life" into the show with her "touch of glamour".
The food expert also praised Nigella's approach to tasting the bakers' creations, noting, like herself, she enjoys taking a "proper mouthful".
Mary added: "If you just take a little bit, the person whose food you are tasting, their auntie will say, 'Well, she didn’t even taste it.'
"So, I was aware of that."
Last month, 2013 contestant Howard Middleton served Nigella some tongue-in-cheek advice, suggesting that she could get carried away with the contestants' tasty bakes.
BANG Showbiz asked the 64-year-old what he thought she would find hardest about being a judge on The Great British Bake Off.
On behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, he replied: "I think pacing herself. She needs to probably realise that there's quite a lot to get through."
He quipped: "So, I think if she finds something that is delicious, I get the feeling she'd want an extra piece. And actually, you think there's a lot of cake to go through; just slow down a bit."
Also in September, Nigella admitted worrying over the thought she "didn't deserve" to be a judge on The Great British Bake Off, hosted by Alison Hammond, 51, and 53-year-old Noel Fielding.
The food writer was quoted by Best magazine as saying: "It would have been odd if I hadn't been a bit nervous before I started. It's a big deal.
"I actually did worry that I didn't deserve the honour of being a judge, so Paul and I met up, and we chatted. I love baking, although I'm a bit more ramshackle than Paul!
"But he made me feel that, yes, I can do it. So I did.
"I just wanted to make sure, because I was following two very eminent ladies - Prue Leith and Mary Berry."
Paul thinks she is a great addition to The Great British Bake Off.
He said: "Nigella has such a wonderful way with words, and she's very good at explaining to the people watching what the bake tastes like. She was brilliant."
Although the pair "argued on a couple of points" - notably on flavours - their "fundamentals were the same".
Paul added: "I just think she fits in beautifully."
