Editing Nigella Lawson (section)

==Career==

===Early work===
Lawson originally worked in publishing, first taking a job under publisher [[Naim Attallah]].<ref name="tastyempire"/> At 23, she began her career in journalism after [[Charles Moore (journalist)|Charles Moore]] had invited her to write for ''[[The Spectator]]''<ref name="tastyempire"/> – her father had previously been editor at the same publication, and her older brother soon would take up the same role.<ref>{{Cite news|title=First impressions count for Nigella|last=Shakespeare|first=Sebastian|date=28 November 2013|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|page=17}}</ref> Her initial work at the magazine consisted of writing book reviews,<ref name="hot">Hirschberg, Lynn. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02EEDA1338F93BA25752C1A9679C8B63 Hot Dish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012175942/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02EEDA1338F93BA25752C1A9679C8B63 |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]'', 18 November 2001. Retrieved 29 September 2007.</ref> after which she became a restaurant critic there in 1985.<ref name="sweetandsour"/> She became the deputy literary editor of ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' in 1986, aged 26.<ref name="sweetandsour"/>

She attracted publicity in 1989 when she admitted voting for [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] in an election, not her father's Conservative Party, and then criticised Margaret Thatcher in print.<ref name="interviews"/> Regarding her political relationship with her father, Lawson has stated, "My father would never expect me to agree with him about anything in particular and, to be honest, we never talk about politics much."<ref name="Metro, Lawson">Ellis, James. [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=711&in_page_id=11 Nigella Lawson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110100814/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=711&in_page_id=11 |date=10 November 2009 }}. ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'', 4 September 2002. Retrieved 3 October 2007.</ref>

After ''The Sunday Times'', she embarked upon a freelance writing career, realising that "I was on the wrong ladder. I didn't want to be an executive, being paid to worry rather than think".<ref name="modestgoddess"/> In the United Kingdom, she wrote for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', the ''[[Evening Standard]]'', ''[[The Observer]]'' and ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]]'', and penned a food column for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]''<ref name="inside">Byrne, Ciar and Morris, Soppie. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/inside-story-celebrity-chefs-497448.html Inside Story: Celebrity chefs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126062319/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/inside-story-celebrity-chefs-497448.html |date=26 January 2011 }}. ''[[The Independent]]'', 4 July 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> and a make-up column for ''[[The Times#The Times Magazine|The Times Magazine]]'',<ref name="modestgoddess"/> as well as working with ''[[Gourmet (magazine)|Gourmet]]'' and ''[[Bon Appétit]]'' in the United States.<ref name="foodnetwork">[http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_nl/article/0,3100,FOOD_27597_4992624,00.html Nigella Lawson biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203171525/http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_nl/article/0,3100,FOOD_27597_4992624,00.html |date=3 February 2008 }}. [[Food Network]]. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> In 1995 Lawson left a two-week stint at [[Talk Radio UK|Talk Radio]] early after making a statement that her shopping was done for her, apparently due to its incompatibility with the radio station's desired "common touch".<ref name="interviews"/>
In the mid-1990s she occasionally hosted TV press-reviews slot ''[[What the Papers Say]]'', and was co-host, with [[David Aaronovitch]], of Channel 4 literary-discussion series ''Booked''. In 1998 she repeatedly guested on Channel 4 cookery series ''Nigel Slater's Real-Food Show''.

===1998–2002: First cookery books and ''Nigella Bites''===
Lawson had an established sense of cooking from her childhood, having had a mother who enjoyed cooking.<ref name="modestgoddess"/> She conceived the idea of writing a cookbook after she observed a dinner party host in tears because of an unset [[crème caramel]].<ref name="itgirl">Dolce, Joe [http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2001/04/englandsitgirl England's It Girl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130063146/http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2001/04/englandsitgirl |date=30 January 2015 }}, ''[[Gourmet (magazine)|Gourmet]]'', 2001. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> ''[[How to Eat]]'' (1998),<ref name="sweetandsour"/> featuring culinary tips on preparation and saving time,<ref name="itgirl"/> sold 300,000 copies in the UK.<ref name="hot"/> ''[[The Sunday Telegraph]]'' dubbed it "the most valuable culinary guide published this decade".<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4716000/Take-one-leek-.-.-..html "Take one leek..."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072045/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4716000/Take-one-leek-.-.-..html |date=7 January 2019 }}, telegraph.co.uk, 19 October 2008</ref>

Its successor, ''How to be a Domestic Goddess'' (2000), focuses primarily on baking.<ref name="angel"/> ''[[The Times]]'' wrote of the book that it "is defined by its intimate, companionable approach. She is not issuing matronly instructions like [[Delia Smith|Delia]]; she is merely making sisterly suggestions".<ref name="modestgoddess"/> Lawson rejected feminist criticism of her book,<ref>Vickers, Amy. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jun/05/broadcasting1 "'I'm no goddess', says Nigella"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214848/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jun/05/broadcasting1 |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 5 June 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2008.</ref> adding that "[s]ome people did take the domestic goddess title literally rather than ironically. It was about the pleasures of feeling like one rather than actually being one."<ref name="extremes"/> The book sold 180,000 copies in four months,<ref name="itgirl"/> and won Lawson the title of Author of the Year at the [[British Book Awards]] in 2001,<ref name="hot"/> fending off competition from authors such as [[J. K. Rowling]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1184692.stm Lawson beats Potter magic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913073947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1184692.stm |date=13 September 2005 }}, [[BBC News]], 23 February 2001. Retrieved 30 September 2007.</ref> ''How to Eat'' and ''How to be a Domestic Goddess'' were published in the U.S. in 2000 and 2001.<ref name="culinary">Hesser, Amanda. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EFD61539F93AA35752C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all "Culinary Critique; Sex and the Kitchen"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925154804/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/09/dining/culinary-critique-sex-and-the-kitchen.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |date=25 September 2023 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]'', 9 January 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2008.</ref> As a result of the book's success, ''The Observer'' took her on as a social affairs columnist.<ref name="sweetandsour"/>

Lawson next hosted her own cooking show television series, ''Nigella Bites'', which ran from 1999 to 2001 on [[Channel 4]],<ref>Peretti, Jacques. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/aug/30/tvandradio.television4 Too hot to handle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510213903/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/aug/30/tvandradio.television4 |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 30 August 2000. Retrieved 1 February 2008</ref><ref>Watson, Shane. [https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,,492574,00.html "A girl is a girl's best friend"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510213716/https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,,492574,00.html |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 May 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2008.</ref> followed by a Christmas special in 2001.<ref>Deans, Jason. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/dec/21/overnights Oliver whips Lawson in battle of TV chefs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214646/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/dec/21/overnights |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 21 September 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2008.</ref> [[Victor Lewis-Smith]], a critic usually known for his biting comments, praised Lawson for being "formidably charismatic".<ref name="extremes"/> The first series of ''Nigella Bites'' averaged 1.9&nbsp;million viewers,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,373380,00.html Who's cooking? TV's army of chefs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925154816/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/sep/26/1 |date=25 September 2023 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 26 September 2000. Retrieved 5 February 2008.</ref> and won her the Television Broadcast of the Year at the Guild of Food Writers Awards<ref>[http://www.gfw.co.uk/awards/?sub=17#contentrow6 Guild of Food Writers Award Winners 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207085405/http://www.gfw.co.uk/awards/?sub=17 |date=7 December 2008 }}. ''Guild of Food Writers''. Retrieved 9 October 2007.</ref> and the Best Television Food Show at the World Food Media Awards in 2001.<ref>[http://www.worldfoodmediaawards.com/awards/winners/2001 2001 Jacob's Creek World Food Media Awards Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023144233/http://www.worldfoodmediaawards.com/awards/winners/2001 |date=23 October 2019 }}. World Food Media Awards. Retrieved 18 July 2008.</ref> The show yielded an accompanying best-selling recipe book, also called ''Nigella Bites'',<ref>[http://books.guardian.co.uk/digestedread/story/0,,503778,00.html Nigella Bites by Nigella Lawson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182408/http://books.guardian.co.uk/digestedread/story/0,,503778,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 9 June 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2007.</ref> for which [[Waterstone's]] book stores reported UK sales of over 300,000.<ref name="booksales">Jones, Sam. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/21/christmas2007.booksnews Nigella tops book list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214932/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/21/christmas2007.booksnews |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 12 December 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> The book won the [[WH Smith]] Lifestyle Book of the Year award.<ref>Shannon, Sarah. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1392257/Viewers-lose-their-hunger-for-cookery-shows.html Viewers lose their hunger for cooking shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181033/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1392257/Viewers-lose-their-hunger-for-cookery-shows.html |date=30 December 2018 }}. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 25 April 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2008.</ref>

The ''Nigella Bites'' series, which was filmed in her home in west London, was later broadcast on American television channels [[E!]]<ref name="getscooking">Deans, Jason. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/aug/09/broadcasting1 Nigella gets cooking in America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221150805/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/aug/09/broadcasting1 |date=21 December 2016 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 9 August 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2008.</ref> and [[Style Network]].<ref name="hot"/> Lawson said of the US release, "In the UK, my viewers have responded to the fact I'm trying to reduce, not add to, their burden and I'm looking forward to making that connection with Style viewers across the US".<ref name="getscooking"/> Overall, Lawson was well received in the United States.<ref name="Metro, Lawson"/> Those who did criticise her often suggested she was too flirtatious; a commentator from ''[[The New York Times]]'' said, "Lawson's sexy roundness mixed with her speed-demon technique makes cooking dinner with Nigella look like a prelude to an orgy".<ref name="hot"/> The book of ''Nigella Bites'' became the second best-selling cook book of Christmas 2002 in America.<ref name="diplomacy">Chittenden, Maurice. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1018143.ece Nigella dishes up her goddess diplomacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925154758/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |date=25 September 2023 }}. ''[[The Times]]'', 16 November 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2008.</ref> The series was followed by ''Forever Summer with Nigella'' in 2002 on Channel 4, the concept being, "that you cook to make you still feel as though you're on holiday".<ref name="Metro, Lawson"/> Fellow food writer [[Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall]] condemned the concept as "cynical and reckless" and referred to the book as "Fuck [[Seasonal food|Seasonality]]".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fearnley-Whittingstall|first1=Hugh|title=Hugh fearlessly eats it all dispatches from the gastronomic frontline|url=https://archive.org/details/hughfearlesslyea0000fear|url-access=registration|date=2006|publisher=Bloomsbury|location=London|isbn=9781408806654}}</ref>

In 2002 Lawson also began to write a fortnightly cooking article for ''The New York Times'',<ref name="chewing"/> and brought out a profitable line of kitchenware, called the Living Kitchen range, which is sold by numerous retailers.<ref name="inside"/> Her range's value has continued to grow, starting at an estimated £2&nbsp;million in 2003.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3032690.stm Grossman's sauces top brand league] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107022644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3032690.stm |date=7 January 2009 }}. [[BBC News]], 30 June 2003. Retrieved 30 September 2007.</ref>

===2003–2006: ''Nigella Feasts'' and BBC contract===
[[File:Nigella Lawson booksigning.jpg|thumb|upright|At a book signing in 2004.]]
In November 2003, Lawson oversaw the menu and preparations for a lunch hosted by [[Tony Blair]] at [[Downing Street]] for [[George W. Bush]] and his wife during their state visit to the UK.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3223156.stm In pictures: Bush visit day two (go to picture 9)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321073114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3223156.stm |date=21 March 2008 }}, [[BBC News]], 20 November 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2007.</ref> Former [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Laura Bush]], is said to be a fan of Lawson's recipes and once included one of her soups as the starter for the 2002 presidential Christmas dinner.<ref name="diplomacy"/> Lawson's fifth book, ''Feast: Food that Celebrates Life'', released in 2004,<ref>Fort, Matthew. [http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/houseandgarden/0,,1339945,00.html#article_continue Beauty and the Feast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182416/http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/houseandgarden/0,,1339945,00.html#article_continue |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 31 October 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2007.</ref> made sales worth £3&nbsp;million.<ref>Ezard, John. [http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1646341,00.html "Cookery and children's titles surge in popularity"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182411/http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1646341,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 19 November 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2007.</ref> London's ''[[Evening Standard]]'' wrote that the book "works both as a practical manual and an engrossing read. ... Nobody else writes so openly about the emotional significance of food."<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/review-13986427-details/Nigella+serves+up+a+Feast/review.do?reviewId=13986427 Nigella serves up a Feast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222220601/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/review-13986427-details/Nigella+serves+up+a+Feast/review.do?reviewId=13986427 |date=22 December 2008 }}. ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 10 April 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2008.</ref> Lawson appeared frequently on American television in 2004, conducting cookery slots on talk shows such as ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]''.<ref>[http://www.nigella.com/nigella/detail.asp?article=204&area=10 Nigella interview with Ellen DeGeneres] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011054131/http://nigella.com/nigella/detail.asp?area=10&article=204 |date=11 October 2007 }}, nigella.com. Retrieved 29 September 2007.</ref>

In the UK in 2005, Lawson started to host a daytime television chat show on [[ITV1]] called ''Nigella'', on which celebrity guests joined her in a studio kitchen.<ref name="seconds"/> The first episode debuted with a disappointing 800,000 viewers.<ref>Deans, Jason. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/05/overnights "Nigella fails to cook up ratings feast"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510213329/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/05/overnights |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 5 July 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2008.</ref> The show was met with a largely negative critical reaction,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4685595.stm Nigella TV ratings take a tumble] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106234527/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4685595.stm |date=6 January 2009 }}, [[BBC News]], 15 July 2005. Retrieved 20 July 2008.</ref> and after losing 40% of its viewers in the first week, the show was cancelled.<ref name="joins">Busfield, Steve. [http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,1866576,00.html Nigella joins the BBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012185247/http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,1866576,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 7 September 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2007.</ref> She later commented to ''[[Radio Times]]'' that on her first show, she was almost too frightened to come out of her dressing room.<ref>Bird, Steve. [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article2337293.ece Nigella claims US rival has 'soft spot' for her husband] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616142243/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article2337293.ece |date=16 June 2011 }}. ''[[The Times]]'', 28 August 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2007.</ref> Lawson added that having to pretend to be interested in the lives of the celebrities on her show became too much of an effort.<ref name="seconds"/>

Her third food-based television series, called ''Nigella Feasts'', debuted on the [[Food Network]] in the United States in Autumn 2006 for a 13-week run.<ref name="joins"/> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine wrote a favourable review of the show; "the real appeal of ''Feasts'' ... is her unfussy, wry, practical approach to entertaining and quality comfort food. ''Feasts'' will leave you wishing for an invite".<ref>Poniewozik, James. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1549316,00.html "5 TV Food Shows to Sink Your Teeth Into"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110956/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1549316,00.html |date=8 April 2008 }}. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 22 October 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2008.</ref>

Lawson was next signed to [[BBC Two]] to host a three-part cookery show entitled ''Nigella's Christmas Kitchen'', which began on 6 December 2006 and aired weekly. The first two episodes secured the second highest ratings of the week for BBC Two, with the first episode debuting with a strong 3.5&nbsp;million.<ref name="viewing">[http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 Weekly Viewing Summary (w.e 10/12/06 – 24/12/06)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712091241/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&RequestTimeout=500 |date=12 July 2008 }}. ''[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]''. Retrieved 21 December 2006.</ref><ref>Conlan, Tara. [http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1966580,00.html Nigella tastes festive success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012185310/http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1966580,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 7 December 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2007.</ref> The final episode went on to become the top show on BBC Two the week that it was aired.<ref name="viewing"/> ''Nigella's Christmas Kitchen'' won Lawson a second World Food Media Award in 2007.<ref>[http://www.worldfoodmediaawards.com/awards/previous# 2007 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705184532/http://www.worldfoodmediaawards.com/awards/previous |date=5 July 2008 }}. ''World Food Media Awards''. Retrieved 18 July 2008.</ref> Her influence as a food commentator was also demonstrated in late 2006, when after she had lauded goose fat as being an essential ingredient for Christmas, sales of the product increased significantly in the UK. [[Waitrose]] and [[Tesco]] both stated that goose fat sales had more than doubled, as well as [[Asda]]'s increasing by 65% from the previous week.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smithers|first=Rebecca|url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/Story/0,,1970107,00.html|title=Nigella effect sees goose fat sales soar|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 December 2006|access-date=30 September 2007|archive-date=25 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925154757/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/dec/12/media.food|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, after she advised using [[prune]]s in a recipe on ''Nigella's Christmas Kitchen'', Waitrose had increased sales of 30% year on year.<ref>Clout, Laura. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/20/nxmas420.xml Nigella sends prunes flying off the shelves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012173901/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2006%2F12%2F20%2Fnxmas420.xml |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 20 December 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2007.</ref>

===2007–2009: ''Nigella Express'' and ''Nigella's Christmas''===
''Nigella's Christmas Kitchen'' led to the commissioning of a 13-part cookery series about fast food entitled ''Nigella Express''.<ref>Reynolds, Nigel. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555800/Fast-and-fatty%2C-Nigella%27s-%27unhealthy%27-comeback.html Fast and fatty, Nigella's 'unhealthy' comeback] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514164728/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555800/Fast-and-fatty%2C-Nigella%27s-%27unhealthy%27-comeback.html |date=14 May 2008 }}. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 27 June 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2008.</ref> She said, "The recipes aren't particularly healthy. That said, I wouldn't describe them as junk."<ref>Deedes, Henry. [https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/comedian-suffers-from-clarkes-identity-crisis-447190.html Comedian suffers from Clarke's identity crisis]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220084416/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/comedian-suffers-from-clarkes-identity-crisis-447190.html|date=20 December 2008 }}. ''[[The Independent]]'', 3 May 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2008.</ref> The show became another ratings success and one of BBC Two's top-rated shows each week.<ref name="BARB 2007-09-09">[http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 Weekly Viewing Summary (w.e 9 September 2007 – 16 December 2007)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712091241/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&RequestTimeout=500 |date=12 July 2008 }}, ''[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]''. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> The first episode debuted with 2.85&nbsp;million viewers,<ref name="BARB 2007-09-09"/> a high percentage above the channel's slot average.<ref>Holmwood, Leigh. [http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,2162154,00.html Tepid response to Hell's Kitchen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012185311/http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,2162154,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 4 September 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.</ref> The second episode's viewing figures rose to 3.3&nbsp;million,<ref>Tryhorn, Chris. [http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,2166822,00.html ''Hell's Kitchen'' turns up the heat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012185316/http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,2166822,00.html |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 11 September 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.</ref> and the series peaked at 3.4&nbsp;million on 22 October 2007.<ref>[http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&RequestTimeout=500 Weekly Viewing Summary (w.e 28/10/07)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712091241/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&RequestTimeout=500 |date=12 July 2008 }}. ''[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]''. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref>

Her influence with the public was again demonstrated when sales of [[Riesling]] wine increased by 30% in the UK after she had incorporated it into her [[Coq au vin|Coq au Riesling]] recipe on ''Nigella Express''.<ref>Wallop, Harry. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/29/nwine129.xml Nigella recipe prompts thirst for Riesling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012134208/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F09%2F29%2Fnwine129.xml |date=12 October 2007 }}. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 1 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.</ref> In December 2007 she appeared on BBC's ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'' and said that she had once eaten 30 pickled eggs for a £1,000 bet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/12_december/05/norton.shtml|title=BBC – Press Office – Nigella chews the fat with Graham and Marilyn|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327053853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/12_december/05/norton.shtml|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lawson was criticised by some viewers who complained that she had gained weight since the debut episode of the series.<ref>Hilton, Beth. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a78623/nigella-lawson-criticised-for-weight-gain.html Nigella Lawson criticised for weight gain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213120333/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a78623/nigella-lawson-criticised-for-weight-gain.html |date=13 February 2008 }}. ''[[Digital Spy]]'', 27 October 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008.</ref>{{importance-inline}} ''The Guardian'', however, noted, "the food matches her appearance – flawless, polished and sexy".<ref name="roughwithsmooth">Levy, Paul. [http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/houseandgarden/0,,2170068,00.html Take the rough with the smooth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724143304/http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/houseandgarden/0,,2170068,00.html |date=24 July 2008 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 16 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2008.</ref> The rights to ''Nigella Express'' were sold to Discovery Asia.<ref>West, Dave. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a80279/nigella-express-sold-to-asia.html ''Nigella Express'' sold to Asia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224133707/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a80279/nigella-express-sold-to-asia.html |date=24 February 2008 }}. ''[[Digital Spy]]'', 21 November 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008.</ref> The series was nominated at the [[35th Daytime Emmy Awards]] in the United States for Outstanding Lifestyle Program, and Lawson herself for the Outstanding Lifestyle Host.<ref>[http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/emmys/env-daytime-emmy-noms30-2008apr30,0,6582476.htmlstory Daytime Emmy nominations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502044223/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/emmys/env-daytime-emmy-noms30-2008apr30,0,6582476.htmlstory |date=2 May 2008 }}. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 30 April 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.</ref>

The accompanying book to ''Nigella Express'' was released in the UK in September 2007, US in November 2007, and in Australia in 2008.<ref>Austin, Keith. [https://www.smh.com.au/news/people/fans-refine-their-taste-for-nigella/2008/03/31/1206850806611.html Fans refine their taste for Nigella] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218181233/http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/fans-refine-their-taste-for-nigella/2008/03/31/1206850806611.html |date=18 December 2008 }}. ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 1 April 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2008.</ref> Sharing the same name as the television series, the book became another best-seller in the UK,<ref>Sabbagh, Dan. [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article3202488.ece "HMV 'sees no sign of slowdown' as sales rise"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612085747/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article3202488.ece |date=12 June 2011 }}, ''[[The Times]]'', 17 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> and was outselling television chef [[Jamie Oliver]] by 100,000 copies, according to Waterstone's. It was reported that over 490,000 copies had been sold by mid-December in the UK.<ref name="booksales"/> Furthermore, the book was number one for a period on [[Amazon.com|Amazon UK's]] best-selling books,<ref name="booksales"/> and was ninth on their overall list of Christmas best-sellers in any category.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/dec/27/retail.amazon Amazon's UK Christmas bestsellers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510215043/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/dec/27/retail.amazon |date=10 May 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]'', 27 December 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.</ref> Paul Levy of ''The Guardian'' wrote that the tone of the recipes was "just right. One of the appealing things about Nigella's brief introductions to each of them is that she thinks not just as cook, but as eater, and tells you whether they're messy, sticky or fussy."<ref name="roughwithsmooth"/> In January 2008, Lawson was estimated to have sold more than 3 million books worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cleland|first=Gary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/29/nigella129.xml|title=Nigella Lawson profile|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=30 January 2008|access-date=11 November 2009|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403133152/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2008%2F01%2F29%2Fnigella129.xml|archive-date=3 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her Christmas book was released in October 2008 and the television show in December of the same year.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}}

===2010–2014: ''Nigellissima'' and ''The Taste''===
[[File:Nigella2.jpg|thumb|right|Lawson at [[Selfridges]] London, December 2012]]
Lawson was featured as one of the three judges on a special battle of ''[[Iron Chef America]]'', titled "The Super Chef Battle", which pitted [[White House]] Executive Chef [[Cristeta Comerford]] and Iron Chef [[Bobby Flay]] against chef [[Emeril Lagasse]] and Iron Chef [[Mario Batali]]. This episode was originally broadcast on 3 January 2010. Lawson's cookbook ''Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home'' (2010) is a tie-in with the TV series "Nigella Kitchen". This was shown in the UK and on the Food Network in the United States.

''Nigellissima: Instant Italian Inspiration'' was released in 2012. The 8-part TV series entitled ''Nigellissima'' was broadcast by the [[BBC]]. Lawson obtained work experience in Italy during her [[gap year]].<ref name="FinancialTimes2/11/2012">{{cite web |last=Schama |first=Simon |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/300a138e-23ae-11e2-a46b-00144feabdc0.html |title=Nigella Lawson talks to Simon Schama |work=Financial Times |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502194311/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/300a138e-23ae-11e2-a46b-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

She travelled to the United States in 2013 and starred alongside [[Anthony Bourdain]] in the reality cooking show ''[[The Taste]]''. The [[The Taste (UK TV series)|UK version]] of the show began airing on 7 January 2014 on [[Channel 4]]. Lawson was granted a visa to travel to the United States and travelled there for a continuation of the series.<ref>{{cite news |first=James|last= Meikle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/22/nigella-lawson-us-travel-ban-lifted-drugs-the-taste |title=Nigella Lawson's US travel ban lifted amid preparations for new show |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 June 2014|access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820233422/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/22/nigella-lawson-us-travel-ban-lifted-drugs-the-taste |archive-date=20 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Lawson was hired by a chocolate company to appear in an advertisement, the advertisement was filmed in New Zealand in May for a local confection manufacturer [[Whittaker's]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Agence France-Presse in Wellington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/20/nigella-lawson-new-zealand-visa-may-confirm-us-ban |title=Nigella Lawson's New Zealand visa appears to confirm US ban |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923134150/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/20/nigella-lawson-new-zealand-visa-may-confirm-us-ban |archive-date=23 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personalities/news/article.cfm?c_id=72&objectid=11250472 |title=Nigella Lawson causes a stir in Wellington |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215748/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personalities/news/article.cfm?c_id=72&objectid=11250472 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10918449/Nigella-Lawsons-US-travel-ban-has-been-lifted.html |title=Nigella Lawson's US travel ban 'has been lifted' |newspaper=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |first=Graeme |last=Paton |date=22 June 2014 |access-date=13 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214015040/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10918449/Nigella-Lawsons-US-travel-ban-has-been-lifted.html |archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2015–present: ''Simply Nigella'', ''Eurovision and'' ''Australian Television''===
The UK and US series of ''The Taste'' were both completed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youthhealthmag.com/articles/15489/20150513/nigella-lawsons-abc-cooking-show-the-taste.htm|title=Nigella Lawson's ABC Cooking Show 'The Taste' Cancelled: UK Series 'Simply Nigella' To Air Later This Year|work=Youth Health Magazine|date=13 May 2015|access-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517002117/http://www.youthhealthmag.com/articles/15489/20150513/nigella-lawsons-abc-cooking-show-the-taste.htm|archive-date=17 May 2015|url-status=live |last1=Cherian |first1=Jacob }}</ref> and in autumn 2015 Lawson began ''Simply Nigella'' for BBC 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-21/nigella-lawson-returns-to-the-bbc-with-simply-nigella|title=Simply Nigella: When is Nigella Lawson back on the BBC?|first=Ben|last= Dowell|work=Radio Times|access-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519073309/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-21/nigella-lawson-returns-to-the-bbc-with-simply-nigella|archive-date=19 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The focus was on [[comfort food]], familiar dishes that are simple and quick to cook.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/22/nigella-lawson-compares-cooking-to-childcare-ahead-of-new-bbc2-series|title=Nigella Lawson: I don't have to be novel because novelty is often inedible|first=John|last=Plunkett|date=22 April 2015|access-date=13 January 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001701/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/22/nigella-lawson-compares-cooking-to-childcare-ahead-of-new-bbc2-series|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lawson was spokesperson for the [[United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015]], giving the twelve points to Sweden's [[Måns Zelmerlöw]] and his song "[[Heroes (Måns Zelmerlöw song)|Heroes]]", which went on to win the contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/may/18/nigella-lawson-eurovision-bbc|title=Nigella Lawson to serve up UK's Eurovision scores|first=John|last=Plunkett|date=18 May 2015|access-date=13 January 2018|website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001545/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/may/18/nigella-lawson-eurovision-bbc|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was reported on 18 January 2016, that Lawson would make a return to Australian television, joining the [[MasterChef Australia (series 8)|eighth series]] of ''[[MasterChef Australia]]'' as a guest judge, alongside the returning judges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nigella joins MasterChef Australia judges in Series 8|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/chefcook/celebrity-chef-nigella-lawson-says-shes-a-complete-nightmare-to-make-a-cup-of-tea-for/ar-BBol69F?li=AAcVLvg|publisher=MSN|date=18 January 2016|access-date=19 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120214335/http://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/chefcook/celebrity-chef-nigella-lawson-says-shes-a-complete-nightmare-to-make-a-cup-of-tea-for/ar-BBol69F?li=AAcVLvg|archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> She returned to the show for the [[MasterChef Australia (series 10)|tenth series]] in 2018<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/masterchef/nigella-lawson-masterchef-australia-guest-judge-48360|title=MasterChef Australia guest judge Nigella Lawson makes a surprising confession about the show|magazine=[[TV Week]]|date=14 May 2018|access-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515121839/https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/masterchef/nigella-lawson-masterchef-australia-guest-judge-48360|archive-date=15 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[MasterChef Australia (series 11)|eleventh series]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/nigella-lawsons-coming-for-tea-in-masterchef-season-11/news-story/e761986b71ea022372f8efadf3bde655?nk=5d78e325b357829a2dd8aded777c2707-1557917637|title=Nigella Lawson's coming for tea in Masterchef Season 11|first=Lisa|last=Woolford|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|date=13 May 2019|access-date=15 May 2019|archive-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101163237/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/nigella-lawsons-coming-for-tea-in-masterchef-season-11/news-story/e761986b71ea022372f8efadf3bde655?nk=5d78e325b357829a2dd8aded777c2707-1557917637|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, it was announced that Lawson would be returning to Australian television as a judge on the [[My Kitchen Rules (series 12)|twelfth season]] of [[Seven Network|7 Network]]'s ''[[My Kitchen Rules]].''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chick |first=Ellysia |title=Nigella Lawson joins MKR – Inside 7 |url=https://www.inside7.com.au/nigella-lawson-joins-mkr/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |language=en-AU |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115307/https://www.inside7.com.au/nigella-lawson-joins-mkr/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiney |first=Richie |date=2022-06-30 |title=Nigella Lawson Joins My Kitchen Rules In Refreshed Season |url=https://itvstudios.com.au/2022/06/nigella-lawson-joins-my-kitchen-rules-in-refreshed-season-produced-by-itvsa/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=ITV Studios Australia |language=en-US |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115307/https://itvstudios.com.au/2022/06/nigella-lawson-joins-my-kitchen-rules-in-refreshed-season-produced-by-itvsa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |title=Seven West Media : – Nigella Lawson joins MKR {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SEVEN-WEST-MEDIA-LIMITED-9058799/news/Seven-West-Media-Nigella-Lawson-joins-MKR-40135991/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.marketscreener.com |date=24 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115306/https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SEVEN-WEST-MEDIA-LIMITED-9058799/news/Seven-West-Media-Nigella-Lawson-joins-MKR-40135991/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawson co-hosted and judged the first six episodes of the season alongside long term judge [[Manu Feildel]] before leaving the series after the first round of instant restaurants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-16 |title=MKR fans 'devastated' as Nigella LEAVES show |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/fans-shocked-as-celebrity-chef-nigella-lawson-exits-my-kitchen-rules-mkr-has-catfished-us-with-nigella-c-7894034 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=PerthNow |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115305/https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/fans-shocked-as-celebrity-chef-nigella-lawson-exits-my-kitchen-rules-mkr-has-catfished-us-with-nigella-c-7894034 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, it was announced that Lawson would be returning to the show for its thirteenth season as a judge in Kitchen HQ alongside fellow returning judges Manu Feildel and [[Colin Fassnidge]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Says |first=Carolemorrissey |date=2023-04-11 |title=MKR: Colin Fassnidge judges with Manu Feildel, Nigella for finals. {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/04/mkr-colin-fassnidge-judges-with-manu-feildel-nigella-for-finals.html |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427220402/https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/04/mkr-colin-fassnidge-judges-with-manu-feildel-nigella-for-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-10 |title=Major star joins MKR's judging line-up for 2023 |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/major-star-joins-mkrs-judging-line-up-for-2023--c-10303983 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=7NEWS |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115302/https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/major-star-joins-mkrs-judging-line-up-for-2023--c-10303983 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about My Kitchen Rules 2023! |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/my-kitchen-rules/my-kitchen-rules-2023-77335 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Now To Love |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526115303/https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/my-kitchen-rules/my-kitchen-rules-2023-77335 |url-status=live }}</ref>