Nigella Lawson to meet fans in public before Bake Off debut

The 66-year-old was named as the replacement for outgoing judge and Cotswolds resident Dame Prue Leith in January.

Ms Lawson read Modern Languages at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, edited the student magazine Isis, later saving it from financial trouble, and graduated in 1979.

A portrait of the TV cook and food writer was then hung in the very same Oxford college, installed in 2018, to inspire students.

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Henley in Oxfordshire. (Image: Archant)

It has now been revealed that Ms Lawson is returning to Oxfordshire for the Henley Literary Festival later this year.

The festival is celebrating its 20th year in 2026 from Friday, October 2, through to Sunday, October 11.

Events will take place across the riverside town in which fellow Great British Bake Off star Dame Mary Berry lives.

Bake Off-bound Ms Lawson will make her debut at the festival on its opening night (Friday, October 2).

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Nigella Lawson. (Image: Archive)

Julia Donaldson, the UK’s bestselling author of all time, will be back at the festival for the closing day (Sunday, October 11), which marks her first appearance at the festival since its first year.

Speaking about Bake Off whilst appearing on ITV’s This Morning in January, Ms Lawson said: “Yes, I am a teeny bit frightened. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that.

“I am excited, but I take it very seriously. The thing about Bake Off is that it’s about the programme, which is an institution of national treasure status, and it’s about the bakers.

“And I just want to be there and be a part of it.”

She joked that she is the “clumsiest person in the world”, so she hopes that she does not knock over any of the competitors’ culinary creations in the new series of the Channel 4 show.