Meet the new British Bake Off judge

Channel 4 have announced that TV chef Nigella Lawson will replace Dame Prue Leith as a judge on The Great British Bake Off.

Dame Prue had been a judge on the baking show since 2017, but announced last week that she would be stepping down from the series.

Nigella Lawson will join the show's other judge Paul Hollywood, for the next series - the 17th - which will air later this year.

Speaking about her new role on the show, Nigella said: "it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement.

"I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!" she said.

Dame Prue said she was "thrilled" that Nigella would be taking over her role in the tent.

"She's sassy, fun and she knows her onions - and her croissants, cake and crumble," Dame Prue added.

Nigella Lawson is a famous British TV chef, who has sold more than eight million cookery books, starred in lots of cooking TV shows, and has been a judge on shows like MasterChef Australia and The Taste.

She began her career writing food and book reviews, before her second cookbook won the British Book Award for Author of the Year, and launched her career in TV.

She has hosted her own shows on Channel 4 and BBC, but despite her career in cooking, Nigella is not formally trained as a chef, and said her style is more relaxed home-cooking.