Paul Hollywood brands Bake Off co-star Nigella Lawson ‘warm’ as he admits chef is ‘different to Mary’

“They each bring their own character to it, and Nigella is a very warm person, especially to the bakers.

“More so than Mary was, and I think more akin to Prue.”

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Speaking to Radio Times, Mr Hollywood also highlighted a “very nurturing nature to Nigella, which was quite strong this year,” while positioning himself as the show’s “constant” who remains “constructively critical.”

Ms Lawson, 66, takes over from Dame Prue Leith, who confirmed her departure from the programme in January after nine seasons in the tent.

The 86-year-old said at the time that it was “the right time to step back,” adding on Instagram that she hoped to spend summers enjoying her garden and expressing confidence that her successor would love the role just as much.

Ms Leith had herself succeeded Dame Mary Berry in 2017, when the show made its move from the BBC to Channel 4. Ms Berry had been part of the judging panel for six years before her exit.

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Mr Hollywood remains the sole original judge, having been a fixture on the series across both its BBC and Channel 4 eras.

Ms Lawson herself has spoken about how she approaches delivering feedback to contestants.

“I always try to look for the positive as well, because you never want criticism to make people feel inadequate, or to be something that pampers them rather than encourages them,” she told the Press Association.

She acknowledged that honesty is ultimately essential, noting: “Does it help someone to say something worked if it didn’t? They’re there to get better.”

The cookery star described watching bakers develop throughout filming as “fascinating,” drawing a broader life lesson from the experience: “Making mistakes is not what matters; it’s actually learning from them.”

Ahead of her debut, Ms Lawson expressed both nerves and delight on social media, calling the role “a real honour” and thanking Mr Hollywood, Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding for making her feel instantly welcome.

One of British television’s most recognisable figures, Ms Lawson first rose to prominence in the late 1990s through her bestselling cookbooks and cookery programmes.

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The Oxford-educated former journalist’s debut book, How To Eat, proved a major hit, while her second title, How To Be A Domestic Goddess — credited with sparking the cupcake craze — earned her the British Book Award for author of the year in 2001.