SHE may be Welsh through and through but Great British Bake Off contender Beca Lyne-Pirkis has the full support of many Dorking residents.
This week the 31-year-old mum of one successfully completed week five of the baking competition which has become one of the televisual events of the year.
And she has been cheered every step of the way by sister-in-law Abbie Day and nephews Jake, Sam, Tom and Ben, three of whom attend Dorking's Ashcombe School.
Miss Day, 38, of Orchard Road, said: "We're really proud of her. We think it's brilliant and everyone is supporting her loads.
"Every Tuesday at 8pm we make sure everyone's there to watch her and no-one's allowed to talk. My boys are telling all their school friends to support her and my eldest son, who works in Domino's in Dorking, is spreading the word as well."
Beca, whose soldier husband Matt grew up in Dorking, is a regular visitor to what she calls "a beautiful, lovely little town with a gorgeous High Street".
Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, she explained the effect that being part of such a huge cultural phenomenon has had on her life.
"It's just surreal," the Aldershot resident said. "I was out in Farnham and I had people come up to me going, 'Are you on the Bake Off?' Everyone's been lovely.
"The first episode of this series had a four million increase in viewing figures. It's absolutely crazy. More people watched last week's Bake Off than the England football match. That says it all really."
The Cardiff native came through a gruelling audition process and beat 14,000 hopefuls to clinch a place among the show's 13 contestants, despite some misgivings.
"Being a massive fan of the show, I didn't want to apply," she said. "I thought it might make me not enjoy the programme, but in the end I just thought, 'Just do it, because you may not have this opportunity again'. And, if anything, it's made me love it even more."
She then endured the "surreal" event of meeting two of her heroes – the show's star judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.
"Mary is just amazing, a phenomenal woman," she said. "She's just so warm, it's like having your grandmother next to you. Paul's background and knowledge is amazing. It's just great to have any kind of criticism, comment or feedback from them, good or bad."
Another plus for Beca has been the contribution of presenters Sue Perkins and Leatherhead's own Mel Giedroyc.
"They're like your two naughty best friends stood right next to you," she added.
Read Beca's blog at http://becamurphlp.wordpress.com/
