A Helensburgh woman has described her experience on nationally televised baking contest as “surreal”.

Susan Gardner, 65, made it to the final five of BBC One’s The Queen’s Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years In The Baking, a competition hosted by the Big Jubilee Lunch and royal grocer Fortnum & Mason (F&M).

The contest, which was broadcast tonight (Thursday), saw amateur bakers tasked with producing a cake or pudding fit for the Queen and her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

It was won by Jemma Melvin from Southport, with her lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle based on the lemon posset dessert served at the Queen’s wedding.

Susan, who works for the National Trust for Scotland at the Hill House in Helensburgh, created a 'four nations pudding' containing Scottish berries, Yorkshire rhubarb, Welsh cakes, and Irish butter and cream.

Her recipe wowed the judging panel, which was headed by the Great British Bake Off’s Dame Mary Berry.

The rest of the panel was made up of F&M executive chef Roger Pizey, MasterChef judge Monica Galetti, author and baker Jane Dunn, 2018 Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal, and culinary historian Regula Wsewijn.

Designed to represent the four nations of the UK coming together, Monica said the thought which went into the pudding was "quite touching".

Susan said: “It's been surreal, and it’s been a joy.

“It’s certainly going to be one of the most memorable experiences that I have had. We’ve been looked after so well by everyone involved.

“Being in the Fortnum & Mason pastry kitchen with their executive chefs has been an experience that you could not dream of or replicate.”

After entering back in February, Susan's entry was selected from more than 5,000 applications received from bakers across the UK.

Her involvement in the programme has turned her into somewhat of a local celebrity, with people showing up to the Hill House to ask for selfies with her.

However, she wasn’t the only one flying the flag for Helensburgh on the show, with 10-year-old Rhu Primary pupil Oliver Scullion also featuring.

Oliver’s entry made it to the top 50, with producers then asking him to travel to London to take part in filming.

Susan added: “It’s kind of gone a bit silly in Helensburgh. There’s parties going on all over the place tonight.

“They’ve got brooches and T-shirts, and I’ve made mini puddings for all the people I know who are having parties to support me.

“I have had lots of people coming into the Hill House asking for selfies and visitors from all over the UK who have read about it in the press. I think it’s great for Helensburgh.

“I’ve been in touch Oliver’s mum, she messaged me to say good luck and we’ve been chatting. I’m looking forward to meeting up with her and Oliver.”

Read more about Susan's experience in the next print edition of the Advertiser, on sale from Thursday, May 19.