The domestic goddess is about to be let loose in the Bake Off tent. Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood spill the beans about bonding over dirty martinis, \u2018Professor Precision\u2019 \u2013 and why they call themselves the Salty Gang<\/p>\n
Like the Cleopatra of cake, new Great British Bake Off judge Nigella Lawson reclines on a chaise longue throughout our interview, gently fanning herself. Fellow judge Paul Hollywood chuckles from a nearby armchair. \u201cShe\u2019d sit like this between takes in the tent,\u201d he says indulgently. \u201cReading a book and sipping a coffee while someone fed her grapes.\u201d \u201cPeeled grapes,\u201d specifies\u00a0Lawson with a grin.<\/p>\n
After Prue Leith stepped down from soggy bottom-spotting duties in January \u2013 on the unarguable basis that \u201cI\u2019m 86, for goodness sake!\u201d \u2013 there was widespread jubilation when Lawson was announced as her replacement. The arrival of the domestic goddess has created serious buzz around Bake Off\u2019s upcoming series. A contest that was at risk of growing stale has become essential viewing again, thanks to the velvet-voiced, spatula-licking doyenne of culinary TV.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/fe893d2cb09b1d70e10e547bb30dace99751ef44\/0_944_3579_2863\/master\/3579.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f6043c03168bf7491cb1313ba01e5c80\" "\\"\u2018Eating")
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