Nigella Lawson will NOT host new Great British Bake Off episode

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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It has now been revealed that Ms Lawson will not be taking over just yet, with a different name set to star as a judge in the upcoming celebrity special.

Channel 4 is once again airing its star-studded Bake Off, which raises money for Stand Up To Cancer, the campaign funding cancer research, plus new tests and treatments.

This year’s line‑up includes Love Island star Molly‑Mae Hague, One Day actor Ambika Mod, and I’m A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson, with US singer and online personality JoJo Siwa also taking part after her stint on Celebrity Big Brother.

Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding are back, as is long‑serving judge Paul Hollywood, but viewers won’t see Ms Lawson onscreen.

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Instead, Bake Off: The Professionals judge and pastry expert Cherish Finden will join Hollywood on the Celeb Bake Off judging panel.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 explained to Yahoo UK that filming for the celebrity episodes took place last year.

This was before Ms Lawson had been confirmed as the new main‑series judge, which is why she is not involved in the Stand Up To Cancer spin‑off.

The star is still due to appear later in the year when the standard series of Bake Off featuring non‑celebrity contestants returns.