IN HER OWN WORDS: Mary Berry

As Mary, 82, visits Scone Palace in Perthshire to reveal more Country House Secrets (8pm, BBC1), here are some of the former Great British Bake Off judge’s thoughts on her life...

On the former Great British Bake Off hosts, Mel and Sue:

‘They are extraordinary. They are extremely bright, and their humour is spontaneous and very cheeky. They are hilarious, and I am so fond of them.’

On coping with the death of her son, William, who died in a car accident in 1989, aged 19:

‘William’s death has changed my life, and changed me. It deepened my faith. Without its support, I really would have struggled.’

On why she doesn’t consider herself a feminist:

‘I would always stand up for women, but I don’t want women’s rights and all that sort of thing. I love to have men around, and I suppose if you’re a true feminist, you get on and do it yourself. I love it when someone says “I’ll get your coat” or “I’ll look after you”, or offers you a seat on the bus. I’m thrilled to bits. I’m not a feminist.’

On the secrets of her 51-year marriage to Paul, a retired antique books dealer:

‘I think it’s having respect for each other. We enjoy doing things together – it’s a life of sharing. I couldn’t bear to be without Paul. I hate going home to an empty house.’

On her reasons for not moving when The Great British Bake Off was bought by Channel 4:

‘I didn’t ever have a meeting with them. I’d made up my mind. To me, it’s an honour to be on the BBC. I was brought up on it.’