The Great British Baking Show Collection 14 (aka Season 17) has returned to its beloved autumnal Friday residency on Netflix (albeit starting a little later than normal).
As this writer will say until this series is canceled, The Great British Baking Show is like a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. It’s reliable, delicious, and hits the soul and senses in the most British way possible.
This year, however, the recipe for success has changed: the grand lady herself, Prue Leith, departed the show and was replaced by a woman of gigantic epicurean fame and renown, Nigella Lawson.
Shuffling the deck on Bake-Off isn’t new. Comedian Noel Fielding, despite his long tenure on the series, was part of the team that replaced original hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins; TV presenter Allison Hammond took over for Little Britain and Doctor Who star Matt Lucas, and even Prue herself filled the shoes of the legendary Mary Berry. Only the steely Don Corleone of pastries and desserts, Paul Hollywood, remains the only Day 1 on the series.
HHowever, for so many who joined Bake-Off during the Prue era (2005-2016), it’s hard to see our favorite booze-loving judge not accidentally walking into a double entendre, wearing outlandish outfits, or just being the British “nan” we all wish we had in our lives.
Prue’s absence is definitely felt in the season premiere, “Cake Week.” Nigella’s nerves are on full display throughout the episode, and it’s clear she’s trying to be more of a judge than herself. When Allison Hammond joined the series in 2024, she was a natural fit— because of her previous involvement as a contestant and her God-given, infectious charisma. Conversely, the contestants and the rest of the crew (Paul, Noel, Allison) all fit a bit awe-struck by her presence on the series. At one point, Paul even comments, “You’re baking for Nigella Lawson!”
The butterflies, the awkwardness of the premiere episode fade in Episode 2, “Biscuit Week.” The vaunted challenge, which has historically given contestants fits, felt like a classic episode. You could see Nigella found her groove in the judge’s role — the banter was high, the judgment was insightful, and everything felt like it should on the series.
The Great British Baking Show remains the warm, welcoming pop culture blanket that we can wrap around our souls on a Friday night. It’s an epicurean escape from the stone-cold realities of everyday life, on a micro and macro level. With Nigella in the tent, the recipe may change forever, but it’s still as good as you remember, and it could be even better.
