Mary Berry used to have bedtime cuddles with pigs.
The 85-year-old TV star grew up on a small holding where she would often take the "runt" of the litter to bed with her for a snuggle.
Speaking to Radio Times, she admitted: "I was known to swaddle one and take it to bed with me. Only the runt, the little one that we had to feed from a bottle.
"There’s nothing dirty about a pig – don’t believe otherwise."
However, Mary didn’t give it a second thought when the little piggy was served up for dinner.
She continued: "Dad was very hands-on. We’d have the carcass back and he’d cut it up.
"We even made sausages and, of course, nothing was wasted. It was just what we accepted."
The culinary queen will revisit her roots as a guest star on this week’s ‘Countryfile’, where she expresses her joy at seeing people appreciate nature since the lockdown.
Mary said: "I’m glad that people have got a new appreciation of nature and slowing down. I think we’re all making an effort, if we can, to buy locally.
"But we’re not very good yet at being aware of natural food, the seasons, appreciating where food comes from."
Meanwhile, the TV star recently launched legal action after scammers used her name to try to sell cannabis oil.
A source said: "Mary was devastated after her name and quotes were used to flog CBD Oil (Cannabidiol) so trademarking her name felt like the best thing to do to put off scammers."
In legal paperwork, Mary revealed her intention to launch a range of new products, including things like jams and spice mixes.
The insider explained: "As part of the trademark, Mary has taken in a huge range of food stuffs which will be covered by this.
"Some are products already on shelves, but she’ll be looking to branch out – with the possibility of a new preserves range."