60-year-old Nancy, originally from Hull, is loving every minute of her retirement at home in Lincolnshire with her husband Tim, where they make time to grow vegetables, raise guinea fowl and train dogs.

However, Nancy and her husband have renovated a house in the south of France and her time spent there has influenced her baking. She made friends with a French chef with whom she discusses ideas and learns new techniques, and pushed herself to improve her French so that she can read original French recipes. This experience could prove invaluable to her in the bake off tent.

At home Nancy bakes to feed the family and reduce costs, but also genuinely prefers the taste of homemade baking. She wants to pass on her baking knowledge to her grandchildren and see them develop a passion for food and cooking.