Lady Caroline Waldegrave says she was “completely terrified” to take over from her friend Dame Prue Leith as judge on The Great British Bake Off.
Lady Waldegrave is a cookery book author, former co-owner and managing director of Leiths School of Food And Wine and co-founder of Somerset’s Dudwell Cookery School.
She joins Paul Hollywood as a judge on the upcoming series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4, which begins on Sunday (March 16).
Lady Caroline Waldegrave "completely terrified" to take over as Bake Off judge
Ahead of the new series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off this weekend, Lady Waldegrave reflected on taking over from Dame Prue Leith as a judge on the show.
She said: “I was completely terrified.
“Then, when I turned up, I went to the shepherd’s hut I was allotted and there were banners outside saying ‘Welcome!’ and flowers.”
She added the production company, Love Productions, and Hollywood were “just so kind and so friendly" and that helped her to relax.
Lady Waldegrave added: “[The] mood is very light – there’s a lot of laughter – and (co-hosts) Alison (Hammond) and Noel (Fielding) were so nice to me.
“Particularly Alison. I mean, she’s so hugging that it was just magic.”
Lady Waldegrave said Dame Prue gave her several bits of advice before going on the show.
The first was follow the advice of the stylist, which as someone with “not interested in clothes” she was “happy” to do.
Lady Waldegrave added: "(Prue) also said: ‘When you think something, say it. Be brave and say what you think'.
“She is brave and says what she thinks and I think I got braver.”
Paul Hollywood "got on straight away" with new Bake Off judge
Hollywood said Lady Waldegrave has the “trump card from the off” as a lady following in the footsteps of Dame Prue and Dame Mary Berry.
“From an aristocracy point of view, she’s beaten the other two,” he said.
“We were gonna call her lady, but she said: ‘No, no, no! I don’t want to be called lady.”
He also called her “chatty and friendly”, and said they “got on straight away”.
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Alison Hammond was excited to meet "amazing" new Bake Off judge
Alison Hammond, who presents The Great Celebrity Bake Off (and The Great British Bake Off) alongside Noel Fielding, said Dame Prue told them all how "amazing" Lady Waldegrave was and she was "excited about meeting her".
Hammond added: "She was lovely – an absolute breath of fresh air".
She continued: "She’s not too strict, I don’t think she’s as strict as Paul. She’s a really lovely lady and really passionate about baking.
“Most of the jokes go over her head. She’s quite innocent. I found that endearing. She’s a lovely addition to the family.”
Hammond said Lady Waldegrave didn’t need any help and "just fitted right in”.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Celebrity Bake Off lineup and Prue Leith's replacement revealed
- Where is The Great British Bake Off filmed and can you visit the iconic Tent?
- Will Noel Fielding return to Bake Off after illness and departure rumours?
When is The Great Celebrity Bake for Stand Up To Cancer on TV?
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer returns this weekend.
The first episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2025 will air on Sunday (March 16) at 7.40pm on Channel 4 and Channel4.com.
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