'Great British Bake Off' Season 17 Is Officially Making a Case for Paul Hollywood’s Retirement

Few cooking shows are as popular as The Great British Bake Off (aka The Great British Baking Show). The competition series has found massive international success, and while part of that is the endearing environment, another key ingredient is the on-screen personalities. The show relies on a new set of bakers each season, creating a constantly changing cast, but a few familiar faces remain. The hosts and judges keep returning, setting the series' beloved tone, though they don't last forever. After 17 seasons, some changes are natural, but Paul Hollywood has become a staple. The strict judge is the only person involved in every season, but The Great British Bake Off's latest shift hints that it's time for an even bigger change.

The new season has already changed the formula. The Great British Bake Off not only introduces a new audience-choice week, featuring creative challenges for the bakes, but it also brings in a new judge. After nine seasons, Prue Leith has departed the series, and Nigella Lawson is taking over. As ever, fans have mixed opinions, yet the shift Nigella brings suggests it might be time for Paul Hollywood to retire from The Great British Bake Off.

Nigella Brings a New Perspective to 'The Great British Bake Off'

At this point, The Great British Bake Off has mastered its formula, but Nigella brings new life to the series. Though she has an established reputation as a TV cook and cookbook author, her approach to judging is different. Notably, she calls herself a "home baker" rather than a technical one, giving Nigella a fresh perspective and creating a more well-rounded judging process. The Great British Bake Off's contest is naturally somewhat subjective because no two people like all the same foods. With amateur contestants, the series isn't exclusively about culinary prowess, which Paul often focuses on, but also about taste. And that's what Nigella highlights. Paul and Nigella often have contrasting opinions, and neither is afraid to voice them. However, the judges' separate skill sets mean the bakers can receive feedback and improve in different areas.

As exciting as her presence is, Nigella has become the center of an odd controversy as fans have discussed the size of the bites she takes. Nigella tastes significantly more of the various bakes than Paul, and she recognizes it. Some viewers find it awkward, while others love seeing a woman with a positive relationship with food on screen. Even though she has to eat a bit of everything made on the show, Nigella unashamedly continues to eat and enjoy the bakes, and explains herself, saying, "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." No previous judge has focused on doing this, and it's a great way for Nigella to set herself apart as she joins the beloved series.

'The Great British Bake Off' Needs More New Blood

Ultimately, Nigella's presence highlights the fact that Paul has become the de facto judge. The bakers come in with preconceived notions of what he will like and how they can impress him. Simply because he's held the position for so long, his methods have become deeply ingrained in the series, and that's not necessarily how it has to be. Changes can be positive, especially for a series that has run for so many years. The fact that Nigella's perspective has created such a shift suggests it might be time for Paul Hollywood to give another judge a chance.

No one else in the series has hung around this long. After all, Nigella is the third female judge, following Mary Berry and Prue Leith. Meanwhile, the series has had six different hosts, with Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond currently in the role and previously Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Sandi Toksvig, and Matt Lucas each having a turn. This leaves Paul as the only remaining member of the old guard, and Nigella's presence shows why it's time for him to move on. Her new perspective is an exciting part of the ongoing season, and perhaps it's time for more of that. Paul may be an excellent baker, and his stint on the series is impressive, but he isn't the only authority on the subject, especially as his point of view has gotten dated. As deeply as Paul Hollywood is associated with the series, it's time for new blood on The Great British Bake Off.

The Great British Bake Off is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.