// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Nigella praised as new Bake Off judge as latest contestants announced
TV chef Nigella Lawson has been praised by critics for her new role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, which returns to Channel 4 later this month.
Lawson is taking over from Dame Prue Leith, who said she was leaving the series in order to "work less and play more." The new series kicks off on 22 September but the opening episode was shown to critics earlier this week.
The Times said that "lashings of Nigella Lawson help everyone rise to the occasion", while the Telegraph declared "she is more delectable than anything the contestants could whip up in a showstopper challenge".
Contestants for the 17th series have also been confirmed, including a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser and a drag artist.
Ben Dowell of the Times picked out, external some of Lawson's lines from the first episode, including "I want it really sumptuous", which he wrote was delivered "in that - there is no other word for it - highly seductive voice of hers".
"You can tell the production team are pleased to have her - at times... it feels as if the programme is entertaining royalty," Dowell continued, adding: "Bake Off has found a new star."
The Telegraph's Anita Singh concurred,, external writing: "Nigella is heaven for social media. The woman is a walking meme factory.
"Her every utterance comes over like a line from Emmanuelle. 'The flavours are giving me a lot of pleasure.' 'I like a bit of goo.' 'I'm hoping to find that wonderful frisson.'"
Clara, 24, a marketing graduate from Hertfordshire, is originally from Portugal and only began baking two years ago. She believes "the first bite of a bake is always with the eyes"
Connie, 63, an NHS hospital discharge lead, is known as "the cake lady" and uses baking as a way to unwind after a hectic day. Connie also runs a music centre in London with her music teacher husband Myke, where she loves to try out her new recipes on the students