1. Buy a set of digital scales, your baking will improve hugely just through the power of accuracy.

2. Bring all baking ingredients (apart from those for pastry) to room temperature before starting. You’ll get a better rise and have less risk of curdling.

Photo by David Loftus

3. Buy an oven thermometer. Your oven’s interpretation of 180C might be quite different from yours.

4. Read the recipe from start to finish before you even put on an apron. This got me through the Bake Off tech challenges! Five minutes spent reading up front can save a lot of problems later.

5. Remember baking should be fun. Yes the Bake Off is competitive but home baking should be joyful; not an endurance sport. If things go wrong don’t despair! Almost every bake can be saved when served with a large scoop of ice cream.

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