Food whiz Nigella Lawson to join My Kitchen Rules judging panel

Foodie icon Nigella Lawson has admitted she is “greedy” for one thing when she takes up a judges’ chair on a revamped My Kitchen Rules.

My Kitchen Rules has turned up the heat on the competition with official confirmation that Nigella Lawson will replace disgraced chef Pete Evans and join fan favourite Manu Feildel as a judge on the show.

Lawson, who isn’t a chef, nor a trained or professional cook, says her only qualification is as an eater, so it’s no surprise that is what she is most looking forward to doing when filming begins next month.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the eating,” Lawson said.

“But I’m a nosy person as well as a greedy one, so I can’t wait to find out about what their personalities are and how each pair in the kitchen relate to one another and with their rivals around the kitchen.”

Executives conceded MKR, which was once a top performer for Channel 7, lost its way by focusing on villains, gossip and bitchiness instead of food.

Nigella Lawson will join Manu Feildel on My Kitchen Rules. Picture: Jeremy Greive

“To have the chance to champion home cooks and be given the intimate privilege of being invited into people’s homes to eat their food fills me with gratitude and excitement in equal measure,” Nigella said.

“Being invited into people’s own homes is not only about the gift of food, but about being trusted with people’s life stories.”

And don’t expect any Gordon Ramsay-style feedback.

“I am just not someone who can be shouty,” she said.

“I feel my job is to encourage the cooks, and share what I have learnt from a lifetime of home cooking. I also feel very strongly that part of my judging style has to include helping cooks with the psychological struggles, not just the culinary ones.”

As for her chemistry with Feildel, she believes there will be plenty.

“I know we’ll have a lot of fun together,” she said.