Great British Bake Off's Diana is still cooking up storm after whirlwind year

You'd be wrong. The 70-year-old grandmother from Whitchurch has had a whirlwind year and today she explained how her diary is not getting any quieter.

From judging to demonstrating, Mrs Beard has been up and down the country as a face of the programme and guru on how to make the perfect bake.

"This time last year I certainly didn't think I would be doing all of this," she said.

"It has been life-changing, I would say it really has been – I would never have been to the places I have been and met the people I have met.

"I have done all sorts of events. I did a demonstration at a Help For Heroes event, I have done events at schools."

And she's now booked up until 2016 – appearances at the Whitchurch Food Festival next week, Macmillan fundraisers and strawberry tea events – she has become a famous face around Shropshire.

She said: "Particularly as I am not working now, it is lovely to speak to these people and be invited to all these events.

"I have lived in the area all my life, but people have really started recognising me – it took me an hour to get up Whitchurch High Street at one point!

"Lots of people come and they want to have selfies. I have had it even in London Euston station once.

"It is quite a lot of young people as well – ones that I thought wouldn't be that interested in baking, so that is nice to see. But it is nice for people to come up and chat and want selfies."

But the new-found fame has come at a price. After a restaurant meal involving all the contestants, the night before filming was due to start for episode five, Mrs Beard lost consciousness and fell heavily, banging her head on the stone floor, causing neurological problems.

After a visit to A&E, she was diagnosed with concussion. Later brain scans found the olfactory nerve, transmitting taste and smell to the brain, had been completely severed.

Mrs Beard said: "It could have been much worse – you have only got to be positive about it really. I got my enthusiasm back at Christmas – but it did take all that time.

"I was very sad that I wasn't actually voted off, so I suppose I would like to have another go because this time I would know what they were looking for and that sort of thing – but then they wouldn't allow that!"

She was also part of a scandal during the show which became known as the "Alaskagate" incident. One episode showed her removing fellow contestant Iain Watters' baked Alaska from a freezer, which melted, causing him to storm off set before losing his place on the show.

She said: "I suppose it was naive now, but I did not realise that there was such an interest in it and that the nationals would be so interested and I did not enjoy that at all.

"And there was the social media side of it – I'm not on social media but I know what went on."

Nevertheless, Mrs Beard said she enjoyed the life-changing experience and people always get excited to hear about her time in front of the camera.

She said: "People enjoy hearing about the bits you don't see on television. Like, the tent it looks empty, but it was full – cameramen, technicians, all sorts. It really was so full of people, you can't believe it watching the show.

"I did have reservations about watching myself to begin with, but then I thought I should just grow up and watch it.

You do all the auditions, and then you're told you're in the final 12, so you do the rounds, but it wasn't until seeing it that I really truly realised it was real!"

Mrs Beard remains friends with all her co-contestants and is proud of her Great British Bake Off recipe book, signed by all 12 of the group.

But her real inspiration lies on a recipe shelf in her home – Michel Roux, Annie Bell and books dating back to the 80s owned by her mother.

And she will continue teaching the tricks of the trade at demonstrations and talks.

She added: "For the Whitchurch Food Festival I'm showing shortcuts to success – using store-bought pastry, or croissant dough, or bread.

"I think if I had the facilities I would love to have a baking school. That would be fantastic. I would love to have a baking class and teach people."

Already in the calendar is her next show stopper – a cake baked in the shape of a grand piano for a friend. And what sort of tin can you use to make a grand piano shaped cake? "I really don't know yet," she said. "But I'll have to figure it out!"

Mrs Beard will open the Whitchurch Food Festival at Whitchurch Civic Centre and Market Hall next weekend from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.