Prue Leith’s Bake Off replacement Nigella Lawson says ‘your body lets you know’ what you most fancy a second slice of in her first interview with blushing co-star Paul Hollywood
Seasoned baker and cookery expert Nigella Lawson is the new judge on The Great British Bake Off – and she’s already proving a hit with her co-judge Paul Hollywood. In her first interview since landing the role, the Domestic Goddess admitted that she is a bit worried that the amateurs might be better than her. But Paul, who turns 60 next week, reckons that her “unbelievable taste buds” will see her through, and Nigella, 66, is already planning on breaking out some stretchy waistbands when the time for tasting comes. Here the experienced TV cook, known for putting sex appeal into her cooking by focusing on the pleasure and enjoyment in can bring, explains what attracted her to the role on the much-loved series, formerly occupied by Dames Mary Berry and Prue Leith.
Why is Bake Off so special to viewers?
Nigella says: “Bake Off really appeals to people in a rather deep emotional way, it’s not just watching for entertainment, although of course there is that, but I think for many people, especially more recently, there’s a sort of breakdown of a sense of community and connection between people. Of course it’s a competition, but actually it seems to me to be a lot about creative collaboration and the bakers support of each other. There isn’t that terrible bullying that goes on in certain competitive programmes. I’m not meaning any in particular because it’s all of them, in a way. But it’s important for making for viewers feel cosy and safe and part of something – which they are.”
You’ve said you are not into perfection when baking – have you been given any tips on how to be a Bake Off judge?
“I’m daunted myself because I bake a lot and I’ve written a lot about baking – but it’s different. It’s not for TV when I bake, or sometimes it is – even then I have no shame. I’m a ramshackle type of a baker. I’m going to be thinking, ‘why am I judging them, I couldn’t do this?’ “
Paul: “Wait till you see the quality of the baking – these are amateur bakers. And you go, ‘what?’ Just enjoy the cake – but remember, you’ve got 12 to get through… N: I’m a great believer in elasticated trousers! P: I’ll think about pregnancy pants, I think.”
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You are well-known for not sweating the small stuff when cooking, but isn’t baking all about precision?
Nigella: “I think it certainly has to be precise, but it involves other factors. When I wrote my baking book, about 150 years ago, I described baking as a mixture between poetry and chemistry. You can’t have all chemistry, you can’t have all poetry. It has to do a bit of both. You cannot lose precision, but you also have to allow your imagination to find somewhere to perch.
Will you get on with Paul and the rest of the crew?
Nigella: “I suppose what I’m looking forward to is, you know, being part of the gang. Paul and I have been chatting non-stop, we came here together tonight and I have to say, we were told off in the corridor for talking about focaccia too naughtily – and that’s not a euphemism,” she adds causing Paul to blush.
Paul what do you love most about the show after 17 years and why is it still so popular?
Paul says: “You’ve got that tent with the bunting and it’s in the beautiful surroundings of a gorgeous stately home. It just appeals – people who are not from this country watch it going, oh, it’s very British, isn’t it? It’s got that sort of village fete feel. But the thing is about the tent, it’a like a big family. A lot of people have been with us now for 17 years. When I go there, I normally like to spend five minutes just me and the tent. I’m normally one of the first there and I’ll just spend five minutes with the tent, just being back to a friend of mine I’ve known for over a third of my life. It’s a special place.
Nigella adds: “Er, 17 years is not over a third of your life! Ha, ha…”
Paul, why do you think Nigella will be a good judge?
He says: “Nigella’s taste buds are unbelievable. I think it comes down to knowledge and taste buds. I mean, both Mary and Prue have amazing taste buds and a huge depth of knowledge of what they’re talking about. And Nigella, exactly the same, comes from the same mould. Everybody respects when Nigella says, this is good, you know – chances are you’re gonna run down to the shop and buy it and make it because Nigella said it was good. Both Mary and Prue brought their warmth, and I’m sure Nigella’s gonna do exactly the same, to make the bakers feel at ease. It’s not easy in the tent to bake. I don’t think you can teach Nigella anything when it comes to judging, she knows what she’s talking about.
What kind of judge are you aiming to be Nigella?
Nigella says: “It’s a bit like being a parent, I don’t think you can decide what kind you’re going to be, you are the kind you are. But, as a general principle in life, I look for pleasure and not for fault. So I think that if you can, you should always find what’s good about something that you can genuinely be enthusiastic about. And then you can talk about things which maybe you think need to be worked on. It’s a very unproductive way of being a critic, which is to make people feel diminished, because that never helps in life. You can’t make people do things your way and nor should you. It’s about encouragement and looking for delight because that’s what we need in our lives.”
So how will you go about it?
” What you have to do is be honest to your taste buds when you say something. Some people will like things sweeter or sharper or with more bitterness. You can only have your palate, so I suppose it’s just expressing it in that way. When you judge you know, I think, which cake or pie you would like a second slice of. Your body lets you know.”
Will you find it hard not to get stuck in with the baking yourself?
Paul: “We will do some baking, there’s a kitchen around the back, and we’ll go in the back!
Nigella: “As if anyone wants to see that! I am very clumsy, and that is a slight problem. Listen, I will have a problem standing back because I have a terrible habit of nudging and interfering. But as Paul has already learned just in a couple of hours – look at him being brave – I will try not to, because also I am very aware that it is a competition, so you have to be quite careful that when you talk to the bakers, no one feels like they’ve got more help or more instruction.
What would you cook for each other?
Paul: I’ll make you a focaccia and you make me a chocolate Guinness cake?”
Nigella: “We could go around all the regions of Italy with the focaccia? He’s got a rhubarb plate pie that is just begging to be made now there’s beautiful rhubarb. So I feel that would be my choice now – with a jug each of cream and custard – but I reserve the right to come back at regular intervals. For me, anything frankly. And keep it coming!”
- The Great British Bake Off will return to Channel 4 later this year
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