Nigella Lawson has a very unusual Bake Off habit — Alison Hammond reveals what she does: 'She's like Cleopatra'

Nigella Lawson has brought a new role to The Great British Bake Off, but behind the scenes the new judge has a surprisingly calm routine.

Nigella Lawson’s Bake Off habit revealed

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding revealed that Lawson spends her breaks reading books in her shepherd’s hut, often lying on a deckchair.

Lawson joined the long-running baking competition for its latest series, replacing Prue Leith on the judging panel alongside Paul Hollywood. The new series premiered in the UK on Channel 4 on 22 September, while the US version, The Great British Baking Show, arrived on Netflix on 25 September.

Hammond and Fielding discussed what it was like working with the 66-year-old chef and TV personality on the Dish podcast.

Fielding described seeing Lawson in one of the small shepherd’s huts used by the actors on set. The booths face each other so the presenters and judges can see each other between takes.

“We have these little shepherd’s huts that we all have and they’re facing each other and you can see Nigella in her shepherd’s hut reading. She’s got a stack of books and she’s lying like Cleopatra,” Fielding said.

According to Fielding, Lawson can often be found there reading with a stack of books next to her. He compared the way she lays to Cleopatra, while Hammond added that she lays across the deckchair.

The description became even funnier when Fielding explained what happens when Lawson summons someone to the shack. Since it takes up a large part of the chaise longue, visitors apparently have little space to sit and end up kneeling at her feet.

Lawson settles into Bake Off role

The anecdote offers a glimpse of Lawson outside the Bake Off tent, where she quickly settled into her role as a judge.

Hammond also spoke warmly of Lawson during the podcast, describing her as beautiful and saying she was surprised by her looks when they first worked together. Fielding similarly praised his new colleague.

The arrival of Lawson was one of the biggest changes in the latest series of Bake Off. She took over for Leith after the former referee left the program after nine seasons.

In an interview with The Guardian before the start of the series, Lawson said she was initially apprehensive about the role as she was not a professional baker or technical expert. She explained that her strengths were in discussing food, including its taste, texture and appeal.

Her partnership with Hollywood was also discussed. The two described getting along during an informal chemistry test before Lawson officially joined the show, while Lawson said their roles are complementary, focusing more on flavor and Hollywood on technique.

The new series has already given viewers a different side of Lawson, from her judging style to her interactions with the hosts and contestants.