Great British Bake Off celebrity Mary Berry will indulge her other great passion –  for gardening – by opening next year’s Blenheim Palace Flower Show.

The three-day event returns to the Oxfordshire stately home from 19-21 June, with a 25,000 sq.ft Grand Floral Marquee as its centrepiece, featuring more than 40 floral displays and nursery stands.

While she has become one of the nation’s favourite cookery writers, Mary is a keen gardener, growing her own culinary herbs, fruit and vegetables.

 “I’m thrilled to be opening the Blenheim Palace Flower Show as gardening is a huge passion of mine,” she said. “I am almost as happy in a garden as I am in a kitchen. I find it very relaxing and enjoy nothing more than cooking the produce we’ve grown. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the amazing floral displays from some of the country’s leading nurseries as well as being inspired by the fantastic show gardens.”

Matt Upson, director of show organiser Aztec Events, said having Mary Berry open the show was ”the icing on the cake”.