Claudia

Behind the scenes of Britain’s Best Home Cook, we find lots of fun as Claudia and Mary Berry head a lively new team…

TV has invented a new dream team. Two of our most beloved personalities, Claudia Winkleman and Mary Berry, have teamed up for a new BBC1 series, Britain’s Best Home Cook – a tough competition to find the country’s best home cook.

While cookery doyenne Mary will judge the series alongside chef Dan Doherty and greengrocer Chris Bavin, Claudia will be presenting. And it’s just as well, since the co-host of Strictly Come Dancing claims she barely knows a colander from a chopping board.

“‘I’m not a very good cook,” says mum-of-three Claudia (46) as she settles down to chat about the series at a big table with Mary, Chris and Dan. “These three lovely judges can come over my house for a meal, but I would have to get somebody else to make it and then I would pretend it was mine.

“But I’m learning an enormous amount, every time,” continues Claudia. “Somebody made a fingerling potato in garlic oil the other day and I almost cried!”

Britain’s Best Home Cook is Mary Berry’s first British judging job since she left The Great British Bake Off when it moved to Channel 4. Of course, TV is awash with cookery shows from MasterChef to Bake Off, but Mary insists this new series is something different.