OXFORDSHIRE’S new Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has had a baptism of fire at 220 degrees on social media after her first TV appearance.

One Twitter user, YT, tweeted out yesterday: "I didn’t watch #GBBO - not a protest, not because of the ads, I just can’t bear Pru Leith on TV."

Another, MrsP, wrote: "Don’t like Pru Leith no warmth which Ms Berry gave in spades but love love Noel Fielding #GBBO2017."

However one person who gave Mrs Leith a ringing endorsement was former contestant Christine Wallace, from Didcot.

Mrs Wallace, who appeared on the show in 2013, said: "I really enjoyed it, and I wasn't at all worried about Prue filling Mary's shoes."

Mrs Leith, 77, has replaced Mary Berry as a judge after Channel 4 successful outbid the BBC for the show. The first episode of series 8, broadcast on Tuesday, also saw long-term hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins replaced by comedians Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding.

Another fan of the new format was Oxford’s own ‘Mrs Happy Cakes’ Julia Atkinson.

Mrs Atkinson, who has run her baking business from her home in Summertown for eight years, said: “I really liked it – for me it energised it a bit. People might not understand why Prue has been chosen but she has been around for a really long time and I think she has got the credentials.”