The Queen's Jubilee Pudding on BBC One tonight to feature Helensburgh baker

Susan Gardner, 65, is one of five entrants whose recipes have made it through to the final stage of the competition, organised by the Big Jubilee Lunch and royal grocer Fortnum & Mason in honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The Queen’s Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years In The Baking, which airs on BBC One at 8pm this evening (May 12), will see Dame Mary Berry and the Duchess of Cornwall announce the winner after 5,000 people entered the contest from across the UK.

Retired sales manager Susan takes her cooking inspiration from her mother – but has only become a keen amateur baker in recent years.

She noted that the inspiration behind her four nations pudding, which consists of Scottish berries, English rhubarb, Welsh cakes and Irish butter and cream, was to represent the UK coming together.

Helensburgh baker Susan Gardner with fellow Jubilee Pudding finalists Sam, Kathryn, Shabnam and Jemma (Photo - BBC)

Susan said: “The Queen’s Jubilee is the one time that we can all be together to celebrate our Queen and how she’s represented us during her selfless 70-year service to our country.

“So I wanted my pudding to represent us as one nation.”

Dame Mary, 87, said she got involved in the project because she thought it was a “simply wonderful idea”.

She added: “Jubilees are very special, people are going to come together, have street parties and come together for the occasion as families and communities.

“It’s a wonderful thought that perhaps this Jubilee pudding will be made for everyone celebrating whether at street parties, for family occasions, or even made for just two people.

“The Jubilee weekend will feel as though the country is united.”

Dame Mary Berry will join the Duchess of Cornwall in choosing the winner

The other finalists are:

Shabnam, from north London, who created a rose falooda cake to reflect the Commonwealth and the multicultural society Britain has become;

Sam, a 32-year-old lawyer from Warwickshire, whose jubilee bundt cake is based on the classic Victoria sponge but with a royal twist;

Jemma, 31, a copywriter from Southport, whose lemon Swiss roll and Amaretti trifle is based on the lemon posset dessert served at the Queen’s wedding;

Kathryn, 29, a musician and composer who came up with a passion fruit and thyme frangipane tart which also commemorates her grandmother, who kept working as an NHS nurse in the early stages of the pandemic before she died aged 84 in April 2020.

And – while the Advertiser hasn’t seen a preview of the programme – it’s understood that Susan isn’t the only Helensburgh and Lomond competition entrant who’ll feature...but to find out the other local link, you’ll need to watch the show!