Will claims about Nigella's 'decade of daily cocaine use' dent her TV career? US network airs promo for her new series... but says her future is in doubt

 

• Court heard Nigella 'took cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs'
• Advert for the TV chef's new series airs in the U.S. despite the claims
• ABC said they have no plans to axe show which screens from January 2
• She Tweeted link to recipe for 'holiday hotcake' this morning
• Two PAs due to stand trial for 'spending £300,000 on company credit cards'

By Rob Cooper and Sarah Bull
An advert for Nigella Lawson's cooking talent show aired in the U.S. last night - just hours after a court heard claims she took cocaine every day for a decade.
The 30-second clip was screened as the television network ABC insisted the second series will be broadcast from January 2 as planned, despite the drug claims.
It was alleged yesterday that Nigella abused cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs.
The claims emerged from court as her two former PAs, Italian sisters Francesca Grillo, 41, and Elisabetta Grillo, 35, prepared to stand trial accused of spending £300,000 on Charles Saatchi's company credit cards.

Advert: Nigella Lawson, 53, is seen (second from the left) in the promo for the new series of The Taste which was screened on ABC in the US last night. The talent show judges are (left to right) Ludo Lefebvre, Nigella, Marcus Samuelsson and Anthony Bourdain

Taste test: Nigella Lawson tries one of the contestant's dishes in the advert for The Taste which was screened on ABC last night

Tweet: A message posted on Twitter this morning by Nigella Lawson for a 'holiday hotcake' as she gets on with life as normal

Restaurant 'choking': Charles Saatchi puts his hand round Nigella Lawson's throat in a Mayfair, central London, earlier this year before their marriage collapsed

Despite the allegations, the advert for Nigella's cooking talent show was shown during a commercial break in the finale of Dancing With The Stars last night.
The British cook is a panel judge alongside Ludo Lefebvre, Marcus Samuelsson and Anthony Bourdain. More...

• 'Hi-gella! She was off her head on drugs, poisoned her daughter and trashed her life': Saatchi claims ex-wife's 'drug habit meant she let assistants blow £300,000 on taxis and clothes' so they'd keep quiet

A statement from ABC said: 'We have already wrapped production on ‘The Taste’ and it will air as planned beginning January 2nd.'

Accused: Italian sisters Elisabetta Grillo (centre) and Francesca (right) arrive at Isleworth Crown Court today where they are due to stand trial charged with defrauding Charles Saatchi's company out of £300,000

Drug claims: Nigella Lawson's daughter Cosima, 19, (right) also took drugs with her, it was alleged in court yesterday

However, while the second series will go ahead, ABC are still 'debating' whether or not to invite Nigella back to judge a third season of the show, sources told the New York Daily News.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 confirmed to MailOnline that they will be going ahead with their plans to air a 10-part UK version of The Taste in early 2014 regardless of the allegations of drug use.
Dominic Bird, Channel 4's head of formats, said in July when it was confirmed the channel had picked up the series: 'I'm thrilled that Nigella is returning to Channel 4 alongside Anthony and Ludo.
'The Taste promises to be a hugely exciting and compelling competition with stellar talent and exceptional cooking at its heart.'

 

Drugs claims: The second series of The Taste, which Nigella Lawson is a judge on, will be screened in the U.S. from January

Taking centre stage: Nigella (left) appears on the judging panel on The Taste alongside Ludo Lefebvre

Judging panel: The new series of The Taste will be screened despite claims that Nigella took drugs. She can be seen here sat next to co-judge Marcus Samuelsson

Panel: Nigella is joined on the panel by fellow judges Ludo Lefebvre, Marcus Samuelsson and Anthony Bourdain