TO say Jane Beedle has been busy since reaching the finals of the Great British Bake Off (GBBO) in 2016 is like describing chocolate fudge cake as a light snack.

The 63-year-old, who won over millions of fans with her exceptional baking skills, warm personality and endearingly messy work station, has fully embraced the opportunities being on the then BBC show has awarded her.

From presenting a regular cookery slot on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV breakfast show, to touring food festivals across the country, to fundraising for charities – Jane has enjoyed a whirlwind 18 months.

This Sunday, the day after she appears at Bishop Auckland Food Festival, she is taking on the London Marathon with 12 other GBBO contestants. The Bakers Dozen, as they are affectionately known, are raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and World Vision.

All this while running her garden design business, it is a wonder Jane found time to talk to The Northern Echo last week. However, the friendly mother-of-two was more than happy to chat about her passion for baking and her experiences in the UK’s most famous tent.

So what was it like walking on to the set for the first time?

“Strange,” says Jane. “Obviously it was incredibly exciting, but it was also a weird experience because we all know the inside of that tent so well from watching it on the television. It felt like walking into a really familiar place and we all felt at home.”

Jane was a consistently strong performer throughout series seven, securing the prestigious title of star baker in the first week and impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood time and time again. The experience challenged Jane to take her baking to the next level, and increased her faith in her abilities.

“Appearing on GBBO has given me so much confidence,” says Jane, whose passion for baking comes from her grandfather who owned a bakery in Hastings. “The range of things I bake now has increased because I trust my baking and have the confidence to try challenging recipes. I will always be grateful for that.

“That is the wonderful thing about Bake Off, it inspires people to give it a go. It also brings people together. We love to sit down and watch it as a family, and if the kids are away we always record it so we can watch it together.”

Another upshot of the series Jane will always be thankful for is the close friendships forged between the contestants.

She laughs as she recalls playing board games and singing, dancing and having a laugh together at the hotel.

It was a shared love of baking which helped the contestants to gel and this is one of the reasons why Jane enjoys attending food festivals.

She is passionate about food, and is looking forward to sharing her favourite bread recipes and top tips with people in Bishop Auckland.

On Saturday, at 10.30am, Jane will host a workshop for people aged six and older, where attendees will make a delicious sweet chocolate bread. With just one proving session required, the loaf will be all ready for bakers to pop into the oven and tuck into at home.

At 11.45am, meanwhile, she will focus on savoury bakes with a special focaccia workshop for people aged 16 years and over. This will be followed by a demonstration at 1pm. Each workshop costs £5.

““I can’t wait to join the fun in Bishop Auckland, I’m just sorry I can only be there for one day as on the Sunday I am running the London Marathon,” she says.

“As part of my training I’ve been exploring sugar-free baking, which I’ll be sharing tips on, so like me, you can have your cake and eat it.”