Nigella Lawson was praised by The Great British Bake Off viewers for repeatedly challenging fellow judge Paul Hollywood during the second episode of the new series, which aired on Tuesday night. The 66-year-old domestic goddess has already made a significant impression with her assertiveness, with fans noting she has provided more critical feedback and confrontation than previous judge Prue Leith did across her entire nine-year tenure. Meanwhile, 25-year-old baker Danni became the first contestant to be eliminated from the competition after failing to impress with her American-style cookies and biscuit mosaic.

Throughout Biscuit week, Nigella contradicted Paul on several occasions: she defended the use of miso in cookies against his scepticism, objected to his description of food as "naughty" on moral grounds, and dismissed his arm-wrestling joke by asserting she lifts weights. Viewers took to social media to highlight what many perceived as a lack of chemistry between the two judges, with some suggesting the dynamic could prove entertaining to watch. The article also notes that Nigella had initially harboured significant reservations about accepting the Bake Off role, fearing she might come across as inauthentic, though she remains a home baker rather than a technical one.