Bake Off Adds Nigella Lawson for Channel 4 Series 17

The Great British Bake Off returns for its 17th series as Channel 4 airs the baking competition in the UK, with Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood as judge, while Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding continue hosting after the show replaced Prue Leith for the new season starting Tuesday, September 22.

According to the source, Lawson takes over the judging role previously held by Dame Prue Leith, who departed after nine years on the program. The latest series features ten episodes in total.

Channel 4 broadcasts Bake Off live at 8pm on Tuesday evenings in the UK, according to the report. Viewers who miss episodes can use the broadcaster's free on-demand service to catch up.

The on-demand platform includes advertising, while Channel 4 also offers a paid upgrade called Channel 4 Plus with ad-free streaming and selected early access, according to the source.

For viewers outside their usual UK viewing setup, the report said the program can be accessed through a virtual private network service that changes a device's IP address location.

The report cited TechRadar's testing of major VPN services, which rated Nord as the leading option. TechRadar said the service works across devices and supports many streaming platforms.

"It's compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can't go wrong with Nord," said TechRadar.

The new season also introduces a companion program titled Second Helpings, hosted by Jon Richardson and Judi Love. The weekly show follows the main Bake Off episode and replaces the previous spin-off An Extra Slice, according to the report.