Nigella Lawson won praise from Great British Bake Off viewers after repeatedly challenging Paul Hollywood during Tuesday night’s second episode.
With Biscuit Week in full swing, Danni became the first contestant to leave the tent after her American-style cookies and biscuit mosaic failed to win over the judges.
The 25-year-old became emotional during her farewell, fighting back tears as she spoke about “making friends with a group of strangers.”
While Danni’s departure brought a poignant end to the episode, viewers were more focused on the apparent tension between Nigella and Paul, whose exchanges became increasingly pointed.
When Moyin revealed that he planned to add miso to his cookies, Paul observed, “It’s unusual to use miso in cookies.” Nigella immediately disagreed, replying: “No it isn’t—the young people are doing it a lot.”
The pair clashed again when Paul described one baker’s sweet creation as “naughty.” Nigella was quick to object, saying: “I don’t approve of referring to food as naughty.”
Bake Off viewers praised Nigella Lawson for challenging and “telling off” Paul Hollywood during Biscuit Week, as Danni became the first baker to leave the tent
Danni’s time on The Great British Bake Off came to an end during Biscuit Week after her American-style cookies and biscuit mosaic failed to impress the judges
She added: “We have to take our pleasures where we can in life.”
Later, while the judges discussed which baker to send home, Paul joked: “How are we going to decide? Arm wrestle? I’d let you win.”
Nigella did not let the remark pass, responding: “No you wouldn’t, I’m the one that lifts weights.”
On Twitter, viewers celebrated Nigella’s confidence and assertiveness. Several suggested she had challenged Paul more in two episodes than Prue Leith had during her nine years on the show.
Fans posted: “I like Nigella telling Paul off”; and “The more digs Nigella gives to Paul, the more likely it is she’ll take over the show.”
Another viewer wrote: “Nigella has offered more feedback and challenged Paul more in two episodes than Prue did in nine years.”
Others commented: “Episode two and I get the sense Paul and Nigella are not besties.”
One fan joked: “Nigella cutting the knees out from under Paul in every episode is going to be hugely entertaining, isn’t it?”
The apparent lack of rapport also drew attention, with viewers saying: “The lack of chemistry between Nigella and Paul is very apparent”; and “You can tell Nigella and Paul don’t vibe, lmfao.”
Another post asked: “Nigella really isn’t a fan of Paul Hollywood, is she?” while a further viewer concluded: “Paul and Nigella as a duo are something else.”
Viewers quickly noticed the apparent friction between Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood after she challenged the judge several times during the episode
Danni became tearful as she said goodbye to the other contestants and reflected on “making friends with a group of strangers”
Taking to Twitter, fans were delighted by Nigella’s assertiveness as they remarked she has challenged Paul more than Prue ever did in nine years
‘I can see why Paul Hollywood doesn’t like nigella bc she is giving proper constructive criticism unlike him.’
Another joked: ‘is it a Nigella hug rather than a Paul handshake now?’
Earlier on Tuesday, Nigella admitted she had a ‘list of reasons’ not to take the Bake Off job after the domestic goddess proved a huge hit with viewers on the new series.
The TV cook, 66, made her highly-anticipated debut on the much-loved Channel 4 show last week and she couldn’t have been more positively received by fans.
However, the star has confessed she wasn’t originally convinced she was right for the job as she didn’t want to be ‘fake’.
Appearing on The One Show on Tuesday evening, Nigella put on a friendly display in her first live TV interview with fellow judge Paul Hollywood, despite rumours of a ‘bitter battle of egos’ between the pair.
Nigella explained: ‘I had many reservations. When I had my first meeting with them, I had a long list of why I shouldn’t do it, because I felt like I had to make it clear that I am not a technical baker. I’m a home baker.
‘I didn’t want them to feel they’d come to the wrong shop. I wanted to say what I felt I could do and what I felt I couldn’t do.
Earlier on Tuesday, Nigella admitted she had a ‘list of reasons’ not to take the Bake Off job after the domestic goddess proved a huge hit with viewers on the new series
Praising Paul and his baking talent, she said: ‘Paul is a genius…He just looks at a cake and he says that needed to be another five degrees hotter and three minutes longer’
‘And I said, there’ll be no hard feelings after this meeting, if you feel I’m not what you need because I think there’s nothing more anxiety provoking than thinking that people expect something from you that you can’t give, and I don’t ever want to be a fake person and pretend I know something I don’t.’
She continued: ‘I came to baking late in life. You know, I wrote, it was meant to be ironically titled How to Be a Domestic Goddess when I was 40, so I hadn’t really baked because I was a cook.
‘Then I thought, this is easy. I don’t know why everyone pretends it’s so difficult, which is true if it’s home baking. You know, you can make it simple, and what interests me is taste and texture.’
Praising Paul and his baking talent, she said: ‘Paul is a genius, and he does it. He just looks at a cake and he says that needed to be another five degrees hotter and three minutes longer. And he knows all that.
‘What I feel like I can do is eat, and then try and explain what the taste is like or what the texture is like for people who are home. But I just think I wanted them to know that that’s it.’
Also making sure to compliment his TV other half, Paul added: ‘And you can tell she imparts that beautifully, though. You can see it on Bake Off.’