Nigella Express, Monday 8.30pm, BBC2

Posted by Helen Jennings

Tasty rating:
Nigella Lawson is loved and hated in equal measure for her “food porn” antics, which she gets up to in abundance in her latest TV series, Nigella Express. But her tag as everyone’s favourite gourmet poster girl is taken to new lengths in the latest issue of men’s magazine Esquire.

Pictured wrapped in tin foil – yes, the silver stuff you tuck around your Sunday roast – and pouting for the camera, it’s steamy stuff. Those who actually manage to peel their eyes away from these tantalising images long enough to read the accompanying feature will be further aroused to discover her discussing her taste in lingerie. “Stockings never fail to make you feel sexy. I have actually worn them with nothing but a pair of shoes in bed,” she reveals.

Nigella adds that she likes her men to be of the bear variety (“I like an animal. Hairy back. Hairy everywhere,”) and that she fancies footballers: “I only have to hear John Terry and Frank Lampard talk and I swoon.”

The “culinary crumpet” also says that with Nigella Express, she hopes to get away from her “blow-up sexy doll” image. Hmm, I don’t think confessing to the contents of your frillies drawer (she also likes over-the-knee French schoolgirl socks, by the way) is really going to help shed that oh-so-terrible stigma is it, Ms Lawson?

And neither is the show itself. In the latest programme, we watch as she wakes up in bed (presumably wearing heels, although they’re hidden from view under the covers), saunters down to the kitchen in a dressing gown and whips up a breakfast so calorific it would make a deep fried Mars bar look like a healthy, Way-to-Five snack. If she’s not popping to Waitrose in a cab (as you do), or dipping her saucy fingers in to dessert gloop, she’s got a bun in the oven or making a midnight snack fit for the entire Chelsea footie team.

The premise of the show, of course, is that she loves food and loves eating, but doesn’t have the time to cook elaborate meals each evening. And now we know why. She’s too busy coaxing her millionaire husband into wrapping her up in Bacofoil. Phwoar, etc.

Photo of Nigella Lawson by Sean McMenomy

The full feature can be seen in the November issue of Esquire, on-sale tomorrow

Comments

[BigGirlBlue]

Nigella can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Despite negative media, losing a husband, losing her mother and one of her sisters she's a pretty compassionate woman with a fine personality.

[Glen Harris]

I love Nigella to pieces too,I watch all her shows.I must admit though she did seem abit saucy in this latest interview.I couldn't find the November issue of esquire anywhere today,is it available yet?

[Moe]

Love her to pieces. They do need to show more of her.

[Louise Urban]

I think Nigella is ace. She's definitely a woman who has it all. She strikes me as being a woman who knows exactly what she wants and in this age obsessed world of women wanting to be size zeros, I applaude her for her blatently obvious love for food. Life really is too short - eat and enjoy, that's what I say. So what if she wants to dress up in Bacofoil and suspenders - each their own and all that.

[susan dodge]

I like Nigella. Shes got personality...lots of bubble, definitely a bit of a scary look. But dont you think shes looking a bit plump these days? Time to make a veggy programme perhaps

[Fliss]

Is it just me, or with every series does the camera move further and further up her body and away from her 'curves'? There's only going to be her eyes on show at this rate! Proof that her food has sinister effects on your figure...

[Meg Redman]

Nigella lawson is scary, if you look at her closely during her programmes she gives the camera some really evil looks!
we watch her every episode just waiting for "the look" ! it cracks us up!
x x x