Line of Duty's Vicky McClure joins Bake Off star for cake competition in aid of Owen Jenkins memorial

Self-confessed Bake Off fangirl Vicky McClure stepped into Mary Berry's shoes on Saturday for an afternoon of cake judging in aid of the Owen Jenkins memorial.

Twenty-nine sponges, tea loafs and gateaux were taste-tested at the Boat and Horse pub, Beeston, by a panel of six sweet-toothed judges including the Bafta-winning Nottingham actress and former Bake Off contestant Jordan Cox.

Organised by Owen's mum Nicola Jenkins, all funds raised at the Cake Off will go towards a 6ft memorial stone dedicated to Owen, who lost his life at Beeston Weir on July 10 last year, after helping two of his friends who got into trouble in the water.

"Nicola brings people together," said Vicky, 34, who is currently starring in ITV2 comedy Action Team. "She's doing so much in his memory and how can you not support that? She's obviously got incredible friends and family around her. There are a lot of people here and a lot of money is going to be raised."

Cake off competition at the Boat & Horses pub, Beeston, organised by the family of Owen Jenkins, a boy who drowned in Beeston Weir. The money raised will go towards a statue of Owen near the weir. On pic is Jordan Cox who was in the bake-off in 2014.

A lemon drizzle fan, the Wollaton-born actress praised the high standard of cakes submitted.

She said: "I'm really impressed today because people go to such a lot of effort. People love to bake now, I'm an avid Bake Off watcher so I can appreciate a nice mirror glaze and all those things I probably didn't know about before.

"My favourite cake is a lemon drizzle, a bit like Mary Berry. I feel like I am on the Bake Off a little bit especially with Jordan here. I've never tasted so much cake in such a short amount of time."

Bake off contestant Jordan Cox & actress Vicky McClure taste the cakes.

So was she planning on taking a doggy bag home?

"I'm not sure at this point because I'm nearly caked out," she said.

Owen's mum Nicola was inspired to organise the event because of her son's love of cake.

She said: "His favourites were Bakewell Tarts and coffee cake. He could only eat the Tesco Bakewell Tarts with the cherry right in the middle, it had to be right in the middle. Sometimes we would have to open two boxes just to find one.

She added: "I'm overwhelmed by today. I did not expect this to be as good, I just expected people to bring a shop bought jam sponge. Everyone has gone above and beyond my expectations."

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