Film star Samantha Bond was among a batch of celebrities who tried to whisk their way through the Great British Bake Off tent as the series returns for a special Sport Relief competition.

The St Margarets resident, famed for her roles as James Bond’s Miss Moneypenny and more recently in Downton Abbey, appeared in the first episode on Monday, January 13.

Judged by cookery writer Mary Berry and acclaimed baker Paul Hollywood, Bond took part in the baking battle against cricketer Michael Vaughan, DJ Jonny Vaughan and actress Bonnie Wright, who plays Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter.

The foursome were challenged to make sandwich biscuits and tarte tatin but Bond fell at the final curdle when her sport-themed showstopper, an ambitious Putney Bridge, was trumped by Wright’s triple layered sailing regatta.

The series, which aims to cook up cash for charity, features a further 12 celebrities who tried to rise to the occasion and win the coveted title of Sport Relief Star Baker.

The series also followed Olympic gold medal winner Nicola Adams as she visited Comic Relief-funded projects in South Africa to show how money raised could help change lives.

It is hoped the show will inspire the nation to join Sport Relief and host their own bake sales to raise money for those living incredibly tough lives in the UK and across the world.