EAST Lancashire's own 'cake diva' sat down in front of the TV set last night to watch the new Channel Four version of The Great British Bake Off full of 'excitement, anticipation and uncertainty'.

Rose Dummer from Clitheroe, will be watching every meringue, rising top and soggy bottom made this season with a close and professional eye.

The 50-year-old, also known on social media as 'Rosie Cake Diva', is one of the UK’s most famous and creative cake artists in her own right.

The first ever female pilot in the British Armed forces she now has more than a million followers on Facebook and 150,000 for her Youtube channel on the art of baking and decorating the tasty end results.

And she will be doing her own judging in the next few weeks of whether the new line up on Channel Four, which controversially pinched the series from the BBC replacing Mary Berry as Paul Hollywood's fellow judge with Prue Leith and bringing in new presenters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding for Mel and Sue, has risen to the challenge.

Last night viewers were introduced to 12 new hopeful bakers including from 19-year-old Liam from London, through to 50-year-old cancer survivor Chris from Bristol and the show's oldest-ever contestant Flo, 71, from Merseyside.

Mrs Dummer said: "I am a big fan.

"I think its a wonderful programme helping bring a historic art back to life in the 21st Century.

"At the moment I am really excited to see how it will go in its new format and home, but I don't know how its going to go.

"I am hoping it's going to be as successful.

"It's already different but that might be a good thing.

"Looking at the new line up of the presenters they may develop the same loving rapport with the audience as did Mary Berry and company.

"Seeing the new set of contestants, they look interesting, diverse and I think it will be very entertaining.

"I am particularly excited to see fellow army girl Sophie taking up the whisk and spatula as I'm already quietly rooting for her.

"I shall be watching it very carefully and I'm going to give it a few episodes before I make my mind up.

"Bake Off has really helped bring baking and cake making back to the forefront of people's minds and it's really good that people are seeing this centuries-old art in a new light and coming back to it."

Mrs Dummer saw her role 'cake diva' take off almost by accident in 2012 when she was given the title Wedding Cake Maker of the Year by Cake Masters Magazine.

Now rather than providing sweet treats for brides, grooms and reception guests she makes 'statement cakes' and provides inspiration and teaching for would-be brilliant bakers on social media.

In between watching the new 'Bake Off' series, Mrs Dummer will be returning to her military roots making a special cake to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the the Army Air Corps, where she learnt to fly Lynx helicopters.

A metre high and six feet in diameter at the base it feature a hot air balloon and two helicopters with rotating blades.

Mrs Dummer's said he biggest social media hit was teaching her many followers how to make and decorate cupcakes, which she describes 'as something for everybody'.

And her favourite Bake Off Winner of all time was Nadiya Hussain, of whom she said: "A wonderful baker and a wonderful woman whom I have got to know."