IN HER OWN WORDS: Mary Berry

As Mary, 85, continues to set challenges on Celebrity Best Home Cook (9pm, BBC1), here are some of the former Great British Bake Off judge’s thoughts on her life…

On her school days: ‘I wasn’t the brightest button in the class at school, but I enjoyed cooking and baking. I wasn’t clever enough at maths O level to get on to the cookery teaching course I really wanted to do, so I did a catering course instead.’

On coping with the death of her son, William, 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 the secrets of her marriage to husband Paul, a retired antique books dealer, whom she married in 1966: ‘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 growing old: ‘I have no desire to be a centenarian. I think 90 is a great time. You’ve had a good innings. You have to deal with the cards that have been dealt, of course, but I don’t think very old age, if you haven’t got your marbles, can be very nice.’

On carrying on working: ‘I can’t bear the thought of retirement, and I haven’t prepared myself for it. I don’t play bridge and I don’t play golf. I play tennis, but you can’t do that every day of the week.’