Sunday lunch with all the trimmings and homemade cake and pudding would get most people licking their lips in anticipation.
But even more so when the person cooking it is your mum and current Queen of the Baking tent – Great British Bake Off 2014 winner Nancy Birtwhistle.
However, it’s all part of family life for Linden Homes North production manager Andy Devine – who as Nancy’s proud son is now almost as popular among work colleagues as the Barton Bake Off champ herself.
Andy, who looks after a number of Linden Homes sites across the region, says he has been inundated with requests for cakes since the grandmother of seven won the title.
Based at the company’s head office in Hessle, Andy said: “It’s all a little bit surreal. We are so very proud of her, but to me and the family she is just mum.
“I’ve received so many requests for cakes and bakes, and some people have even brought Bake Off books into the office for me to take to her to sign!”
Andy, who recently managed to catch up with a now very busy Nancy over Sunday lunch, added: “The Bake Off is something mum really wanted to do and was asked to re-apply for the show this year after not making it through last time.
“The weirdest thing was that we all had to keep her winning a secret! We knew in June that mum had won and we travelled to the final in Newbury for the big tea party and the announcement, meeting Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.”
Andy’s children Edward and Daisy have also had a little taste of the limelight, having been filmed for the show in the kitchen with Nancy at her home.
And while life has slightly changed for Andy, for Nancy it has been a whirlwind.
Andy revealed: “She is so busy since the show was aired but she is very cool and level headed and won’t let the fame affect her, although she hasn’t been able just to nip into Barton centre on her ‘shopper bike’ since winning.”
But it hasn’t always been superb short-crust, perfect pies and crowd-pleasing cakes. Andy added: “To be honest, and I know she won’t mind me saying this, mum wasn’t renowned for her cooking when myself and my sister were growing up.
“She was a busy working mum looking after the two of us and it was only when she retired that she took up the hobby, enjoyed cooking and baking and it went from there.”
Nancy beat Richard Burr and Louis Troyano to be crowned winner of hit BBC One show – and celebrated with family and friends in her local pub The George.
-ENDS-
For further press information please contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on 01733 371363 or email cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk
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