She’s been Britain’s best-loved baker for decades – but with endless cake-tasting to do, it’s a job that could potentially wreak havoc on attempts to be healthy. Not for Mary, however. At 91, she is still the picture of health – perhaps thanks to developing strategies over the years to avoid temptation and live a long, healthy life.

First, the former Bake Off judge doesn’t go to the gym; instead, her fitness routine is pegged around walking her dogs. ‘I don’t do gyms,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘What a waste of time! What’s wrong with having a nice run out with a dog?’ She adores spending time outside – and considers that crucial to staying healthy. ‘The outdoors is what makes us healthy, what makes us well,’ she said.

Mary enjoys a game of croquet with husband Paul Hunnings – a low-impact exercise that’s gentle on joints. ‘My husband has always been a keen sportsman,’ she says. ‘He’s frail now, but he can still play croquet. And he plays well because he has an eye for a ball.’

She keeps breakfast simple – toast and home-made marmalade. For lunch, it’s salad. At dinner, she will have a proper meal. But there are no second helpings – and definitely no eating between meals. ‘If I do want something, I might go and have a few grapes or an apple,’ she says. ‘If I’ve had a very light lunch, I’ll have some shortbread – there’s always shortbread in our tin. But I definitely watch what I eat.’

Speaking on the Lessons From Our Mothers parenting podcast, she shared she avoided processed foods and gets meat from the butchers: ‘If you go to a butcher, you’ll get advice as well as good meat,’

She also avoids health fads. ‘I don’t go with the trends,’ she says. ‘I’m not a huge lover of kale. I used to give that to my pony,’ she said on the podcast. But there’s one cruciferous vegetable that Mary adores... and it’s packed with nutrients. ‘I love cabbage,’ she says. ‘I’ll promote that or watercress!’ she added. A great source of fibre, vitamin C and vitamin K, cabbage contains antioxidants that support your immune system and help combat inflammation.