What I learnt on The Great British Bake Off

From doubt to discover: Finding my spark in the Tent

Have you ever walked into a new place and instantly wondered if you’d fit in? I still remember arriving at the Bake Off accommodation for the very first time — nerves buzzing, questions racing through my mind. Will they like me? Am I dressed right? Do I really belong here? From the moment I met the lovely crew, though, something shifted. For the first time in my life, I was doing something entirely for myself, and that made me feel incredibly special.

“I’d always carried a spark inside me — Bake Off gave it the shake and fuel it needed to turn into a flame.”

I never thought of myself as a great baker. My bakes often went wrong - sometimes they tasted wonderful but looked a little lopsided. Still, I never gave up. Bake Off became the place where I finally allowed myself to show that resilience, to embrace who I am without fear. It was as if I’d always carried a spark inside me and Bake Off gave it the shake and fuel it needed to turn into a flame. And yes, even at my age, that fire can burn bright.

What you didn’t see on screen was my near disaster during Caramel Week. I had just taken my caramel mousse out of the freezer and carefully placed it on top of a jam jar to glaze. In a split second, the cake slid right off the jar. My heart stopped.

“In a split second, the cake slid right off the jar and I caught it in my bare hands.”

I dropped the glaze and instinctively caught the entire mousse in my bare hands. For a moment the tent went completely silent - you could have heard a pin drop - until I shouted, “All good, it’s saved!” The crew exhaled in unison, and even Prue later said the finished mousse looked like it belonged in a Parisian patisserie. What an outcome!

That mousse was especially meaningful because I dedicated it to my husband. At the time, we were going through a very painful personal tragedy, and he was my rock, my biggest fan, the reason I could keep moving forward. During that time I would say to myself: there are days when I don’t want to get up, or even breathe — but if I take it breath by breath, step by step, I will get there. Maybe not immediately, but as long as I keep moving and never give up, that’s what matters.

The biggest change was learning to love myself

It’s funny - I never imagined Bake Off would change my life. I still do the school runs, the shopping, the cleaning, so in many ways, nothing looks different on the outside. But on the inside, everything shifted. Before Bake Off, I dreaded seeing photos of myself. I hated how I looked, and even more, how I felt about myself. After Bake Off, though, I began to accept who I am - and that’s entirely thanks to the incredible love and support I’ve received from my followers, my new, very big family.

“On the outside, nothing changed — but on the inside, everything shifted.”

Every morning, I share a personal quote on Instagram, something that reflects how I’m feeling in that moment. And without fail, I get messages from people saying, “I feel exactly the same.” That connection means the world to me. It’s why I keep doing this. Even creating this website is part of that - a place to build a deeper connection, where I can be open, and where you can ask me anything and I can answer honestly.

Why you don’t need to be perfect

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Bake Off, it’s that you don’t need to be perfect to belong in the tent. In fact, perfection isn’t what they’re looking for at all. They want people who love baking, who know the basics, and who are willing to grow along the way. That’s why I always encourage anyone with a passion for baking to apply - even if your bakes collapse, crack, or wobble.

A question I get asked all the time is: “Would you do it again?” My instinctive answer is always “No!” because I know how nerve-wracking it can be. But if I’m honest, I would do it again in a heartbeat  and I wouldn’t change a thing. Next time, I’d simply enjoy the ride.

“You don’t have to be perfect - if your bakes aren’t perfect, you might just be the perfect candidate.”

Simple ways to build resilience in baking

Baking isn’t just about following a recipe, it’s about patience, persistence, and plenty of resilience. Every baker knows the disappointment of a sunken sponge or a caramel that just won’t set, but those moments are where the real growth happens. Here are three takeaways I’ve learned that will help you build resilience in the kitchen (and maybe even in life):

1.      Keep baking - don’t give up after the first try

Your first attempt might not be picture-perfect, and that’s okay.

2.      Bake with heart

Baking isn’t about flawless finishes or Instagram-worthy photos. It’s about the love you put into it. When you bake with heart, it shows.

3.      Bake for someone you love

There’s something powerful about baking with someone else in mind.

Bonus: Never doubt yourself

Even if your bake goes wrong, don’t be too hard on yourself. Have a laugh, dust off the flour, and start again. Baking is supposed to bring joy - and resilience comes from being able to smile through the mishaps.

If Bake Off taught me anything, it’s this: love who you are and recognise your own worth. For so long, I lived my life for someone or something else. Now, I live it for me, my way. I’ve learned that the greatest asset I’ll ever own is myself - my resilience, my passion, my story. And that’s something to be proud of.

So here’s my message to you: be proud of who you are becoming. Celebrate the small wins, embrace the mistakes, and never forget that you are your most valuable ingredient.

“I live my life my way now - and I hope you’ll find the courage to do the same.”

With love, Nelly