Although a food processor is not an absolutely essential piece of equipment, because you can certainly chop, grate, slice, knead and mix everything by hand, it does do all these things very quickly and efficiently and saves you time and energy

Getting into the habit of switching a timer on will, I promise, save you from any number of kitchen disasters.

I cheated at school. I remember on one occasion I wrote some history dates in pen on my leg. So when there was a question like 'What year did that happen?', I'd lift my skirt up and have a look.

A measuring jug is also vital when cooking rice, as this is always measured by volume rather than by weight

My agent, Debbie, saying, 'Don't get involved in advertising.' She gets so many calls a day about me promoting a product, but I am really pleased I have never gone down that route. I don't want somebody else to make a saucepan with my name on it.

I sometimes think the chef end of cooking is not the real end of cooking. Cooking is all about homes and gardens, it doesn't happen in restaurants

I have tried all my life to look after my skin, so I never do things like go to bed with make-up on. I also always use moisturisers. But I certainly do not believe in Botox or anything like that. The thought of it just makes me think 'urgh'.