Leave Nigella Lawson Alone, People

Cooking is one of my favorite pastimes, but I came to it a bit later than the average home chef, which is possibly why I only knew of British cook and food writer Nigella Lawson in passing before now. I didn’t even know about the famous “microwavé” pronunciation (described by Lawson as a bit of camp that took on its own life) and the many memes it spawned until several weeks ago. Now that Nigella has taken on the mantle as the new Great British Baking Show judge, replacing longtime judge Prue Leith—kudos to the production for giving her a nice send-off—I’ve been looking forward to seeing her in action. What I didn’t expect was the strong mixed reactions her premiere would inspire in viewers.

I know I shouldn’t be surprised by negativity flung at a high-profile woman for merely existing when it comes to the internet in 2026, but it’s disappointing to see disparaging comments aimed at something as arbitrary and harmless as someone’s speech pattern. One of the more unusual bits of criticism cropping up is regarding the way she tastes the food presented by the contestants, specifically how big of a bite she takes, the description of which varies from comically large to the horrific gaping maw of Charybdis depending on the level of insult the speaker’s attempting to deliver. Bad table manners is one thing, but Nigella never approaches anything of the sort and can, at worst, be accused of being enthusiastic, like when she took an (admittedly sizable) forkful of coffee and walnut cake assigned for the technical challenge (“This is a bit indelicate, sorry!”). You just keep enjoying that cake, Nigella. A woman passionately tasting food is a beautiful thing, a magnificent display of nature. Would you begrudge the bromeliad for its flamboyant spread of leaves so it can take in life-giving water? Same principle.

What makes these useless critiques even more nonsensical is the fact that Nigella’s already proving to be a great addition to the tent. Despite only one episode made available to stream stateside (by the time this article is published, episode two will have already aired in Britain), Nigella lends guidance into the baking process that’s constructive (her comments on Connie’s overbaked chocolate stout Bundt and how that style of pan entices bakers to leave it in the oven for too long, for instance) while still allowing Paul to play the heavy. Though Nigella does introduce an air of sensuality with her—appropriate for someone who claims they, “don’t have many skills but eating is one of them”—claims of her being overly so are a figment of the imagination. If anyone’s bringing the bawdiness, it’s Alison (compliment), who, for example, practically leapt at the chance to use a contestant’s odd ingredient choice to ask Paul, “Do you ever call anything ‘sticky willy’?”

(Aside: Danni seems like a very nice person but I now live in fear knowing that there’s a more than zero percent chance that someone out in the world might one day serve me a cake made of weeds).

Honestly, Nigella’s stance on generous amounts of salt in recipes was already enough to make me an instant fan; as someone who uses regularly uses salted butter and doesn’t bother adapting the quantity of salt called for in a recipe, a detectable amount of salt only amplifies the sweetness and lends an addictive quality to almost any dessert. Controversial, maybe, but it’s a truth I stand by, and I’m happy to know I’m in good company. Her encouragement of coffee is also a sign that the tent may be ready for a greater variety of strong flavors, something that Paul and his fellow judges have occasionally shied away from in the past (it’s taken years, but the peanut butter aversion seems to have abated).

The Great British Baking Show has been in need of a good shake up for at least a few years now, and although that’s due in part to some of the more attention-getting challenges (derogatory), Nigella may very likely prove to be a bit of spice-scented fresh air needed in the tent. I hope she proves successful, but even more than that, I hope she can be allowed to bring her unique charms to such a big show with minimal grief sent her way. Or, to put it in another way: let her eat cake.

The second episode of The Great British Baking Show (collection 14) will be available to stream on Netflix this Friday.

Kaleena Rivera is the TV Editor for Pajiba.