Overview
- The new series premiered on Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday 22 September with Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood as judge and Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding returning as co‑hosts.
- Producers revealed a confirmed cast of 12 amateur bakers and filmed the first episode’s signature challenge, which asked contestants to recreate Nigella Lawson’s stout cake.
- A new companion show, The Great British Bake Off: Second Helpings, hosted by Jon Richardson and Judi Love, replaced An Extra Slice and aired on the launch night at 10.35pm.
- Early publicity has mixed warm endorsements from Dame Prue Leith and favourable preview clips with media reports of unverified rumours about chemistry between Lawson and Hollywood; those claims remain unsubstantiated.
- The tent format and familiar production team remain in place and producers hope the judge change will boost ratings and social media engagement, so audience reaction and overnight viewing figures will be the immediate measures of the relaunch’s impact.