Ahead of her second appearance on the Great British Bake Off this week, we caught up with Radlett contestant Stacey Hart.
The mother-of-three is one of eleven contestants left in the contest after the first week of the competition.
Stacey, 42, used to work as a teacher in Hampstead and Victoria, before hanging up the white board pen, and picking up the whisk.
On living in Radlett, she said: “I love living in Radlett. There is a lovely close community, it’s a fantastic place to bring up young kids and it’s nice and quiet compared to central London where I grew up!”
On her hobbies, she said: “I love singing, playing tennis, walking the dogs, cooking and of course spending time with my husband and kids.
“I love to cook almost as much as I love to bake. I enjoy making Indian food, and I am constantly looking for new recipes to try out on my husband and friends.”
But her primary passion is baking: “I love to bake everything! I enjoy a challenge so I often ask friends to tell me what their favourite thing is I am always happy to attempt it! The harder the better and I always want to bake things I’ve not made before.”
It was this competitive attitude which won her a place on the flagship Channel 4 programme.
“It took a lot of hard work to get on the show. I applied last year and didn’t get through, so I spent the whole year practicing all areas of baking so when I reapplied this year I was ready. The interview process is long and gruelling but I got there in the end!
“I loved taking part. I met some amazing people and had one of the best experience of my life.
“On that first day in the tent, I really did have a special feeling where I thought ‘this feels right’.
“I couldn’t wait to tell my sons about the day as I felt it put out a strong message to them – it doesn’t matter how old you are, if you put your mind to something, you will get there eventually.”
The self-confessed perfectionist admitted: “It was tough, as I torment myself when things go wrong. Paul was scary!”
“But I hope I bring some good bakes and a sense of humour to the show.”
On her chances of winning, she said: “We all have a chance of winning but for me it was getting on the show and doing something outside of my comfort zone that’s the key thing.”
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