In January, it was announced that Dame Prue Leith, who lives in the Cotswolds, would bow out of the Great British Bake Off after nine series and judging more than 400 challenges.

The 86-year-old has been a judge on the popular baking show alongside Paul Hollywood since 2017, when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4, replacing Henley resident Dame Mary.

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It was then announced on Monday, January 26, that Oxford University graduate Nigella Lawson will replace her as the judge on the Bake Off.

Now, the show’s presenter Alison Hammond has suggested that Ms Lawson and Mr Hollywood have “unbelievable chemistry” on set after filming started.

After telling this to Lorraine Kelly on ITV’s Lorraine, the host responded with a shocked sound to which Ms Hammond clarified: “Not in that sort of way.”

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The Bake Off star revealed that the show’s new judge is both “lovely” and “incredible”, before she added: “Obviously we’ve started, so I’ve been watching. I’m telling you, the chemistry between her and Paul is unbelievable.”

When a photo of the two judges appeared on a screen on the Lorraine set, Ms Hammond remarked: “Look, you can feel it, can’t you? Don’t they look good-looking? Look at them!

“Honestly, they’re so good together. Because I’ll be honest with you, they don’t always agree, and it’s so good!”

Officers from the Oxford Central Neighbourhood Policing Team highlighted last week’s event on Facebook.

One officer posted: “We marked and registered 110 bikes this time with BikeRegister, the national cycle database that helps get stolen bikes back where they belong.”

The event also gave out high-vis accessories to keep cyclists safe in the city.

READ MORE: 88% of Oxford bike thefts go unsolved, new data shows

Bike owners can register with the service online by providing their bike frame numbers to the national police approved database for free, or by buying a security marking kit.

The security marking kit the permanently marks a bike with a unique BikeRegister ID.

Riders can then apply a warning label telling bike thieves they use BikeRegister.

Data from Thames Valley Police shows there were 2,173 bike thefts from January 2024 to December 2025, an average of 90 per month.

Of those cases, an average of 88 per cent of thefts went unsolved with no suspect identified.

Councillor Ben Higgins, who was elected in 2025 as a Lib Dem at both Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, has now become a non-grouped independent.

He had campaigned for both seats on the pledge that he would be part of a “united team” of Lib Dems.

Mr Higgins, who was also made cabinet member for future economy and innovation in May 2025, has left that position after less than a year in post and is set to be replaced.

Mr Higgins’ move reduces the Lib Dem majority on the county council from 36 seats to 35 of a possible 69, and he is the only non-grouped independent at the authority.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council stated: “We can confirm that Cllr Ben Higgins has stepped down from his cabinet role and from the Liberal Democrat Group.

“He is now sitting as an Independent (non‑grouped) councillor.

“Further arrangements relating to cabinet responsibilities will be confirmed by the leader in due course, in line with the usual processes.”

This comes as the leader of the council is set to make a number of decisions on the future of innovation in the county.

On Monday, May 11, Councillor Liz Leffman is set to make choices on giving “authority to trade” to Innovate Oxfordshire as well as on a Space-Clipper subcontract “innovation project”.

Mr Higgins has not confirmed his reasons for leaving the party group or his cabinet role.

In his “focus on parish councils – monthly update” newsletter for May 2026, the councillor did not mention his step down from the cabinet role or move to become an independent councillor.

When Mr Higgins was campaigning for his council seats, he shared videos on the Oxfordshire Lib Dems Facebook.

In campaign footage, he said: “I think that what is really important for people to know is that by electing me, they’re voting for a united team.”

He added that he would be working together with Lib Dem MP Freddie van Mierlo to “protect what’s precious and help make our area an even better place to live”.

Mr Higgins took Mr van Mierlo’s seat at the South Oxfordshire District Council by-election for Watlington in May 2025 after the new MP gave up his councillor roles.

He had won that seat with a 94-vote majority over the Conservatives.

He took his county council seat with a 77-vote majority over the same party.

Mr Higgins was contacted for comment.