A Blackburn celebrity is set to put her cooking skills to the test with Dame Mary Berry, in a BBC TV show that is on tonight (December 7).

On this week’s episode of Mary Makes it Easy, Mary will join AJ as the duo attempt some stress-free recipes.

Mary brings AJ to an allotment hoping to bring the calm of the garden into the kitchen. Whilst AJ, a former St Bede’s High School pupil, likes to grow herbs, she only uses them for her cocktails. Mary is hopeful she will now use them for cooking instead.

Lancashire Telegraph: Mary Berry and AJ Odudu will appear on Mary Makes it EasyMary Berry and AJ Odudu will appear on Mary Makes it Easy (Image: BBC)

Mary demonstrates to AJ some delicious and stress-free recipes, including her tiger prawn coriander courgetti, a rich spicy aubergine bhuna, a hearty one-pot chicken, a delicious humble pie and a simple mouth-watering apple crumble. 

Keen to utilise AJ’s fondness for gardening in her cooking endeavours, Mary sets AJ to work digging in the allotment.

After, she shares a way to keep the birds from eating their home-grown vegetables using an old-school trick: a scarecrow.  

The pair build a very glamorous scarecrow, giving it lashes just like AJ’s as well as an all-important touch of “Strictly sparkle”, after the Big Brother host appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.

Mary then gives AJ the responsibility of naming their creation: “You’re Mary Berry, she’s Straw-Berry.”  

Later, Mary shows AJ how to use a traditional press to make fresh apple juice. The pair reminisce on their lovely day in nature and AJ promises to try Mary’s recipes at home, a success. 

AJ is not the only East Lancashire celebrity to have appeared on Mary Makes it Easy. Burnley BBC Radio 1 DJ Jordan North appeared in episode two, and even takes Mary to the pub for a game of darts and a pint.

Mary Makes It Easy continues Thursday, 7.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.