17 reasons why Great British Bake Off’s Val Stones is everyone’s Northern Nanna

We love her so much we could cry

Val Yorkshire Pudding Gif

by Hannah Mellin and Emma Dodds |
Published on

Val Stones, a retired headteacher from Doncaster, is definitely the best thing about this year's Great British Bake Off. Closely followed by Mel and Sue's baking puns, Selasi's sexy voice and Mary Berry's statement jackets.

She's been baking for 50 years! That's half a century!

Val is so cute she makes us want to cry tears of happiness every single week.

We cried when Paul Hollywood said mean things about her bread Noah's Ark and we cried when she nailed the Yorshire pud challenge. We just love Val so much. We look forward to Wednesday because it means we get to watch Val. Val for President!

Val Yorkshire Pudding Gif

The whole weight of the North East was carried on her shoulders during last week's Yorkshire pudding challenge, but Val pulled it off. Because she's Val, and she IS Yorkshire.

Here are 17 reasons why Val is the whole nation's Northern Nanna...

17. No-one makes tea (NOT DINNER!!!) as good as her

You also ignore the fact that it's always ever so slightly burnt/a little too cold.

16. Doesn’t need to look at recipes anymore – she knows it off by heart

That Mary Berry cookbook you got her for Christmas? Yeah, she doesn't need it.

Val has admitted that she can make 'all the classics with her eyes closed'.

What a woman.

15. She 100% believes that everything you do is the best thing anyone’s ever done, no matter what it is

'Oh how wonderful! I'm so proud, let's bake you a cake!'

14. She constantly drops things.

Val Bake Off

Especially at the worst moment, like when Paul Hollywood is watching.

**13. She's been rocking the same signature look for years **

We all know that salmon pink blouse, pearl studs and matching lip gloss has been Val's uniform for decades.

And no-one wears it better.

12. She knows how to make a proper brew.

Bone china, Yorkshire tea bag, biscuits, milk last. Val definitely knows the drill, just like your Northern Nanna. In fact, we would all pay big bucks for Val to make us a cuppa.

Imagine making a brew with that awful water 'down south'. Just imagine.

**11. Her sad face breaks your heart into smithereens. **

Val Stones

We just can't.

10. If you stayed at Val's house for the weekend you'd definitely put on at least two stone

And you'd love every second of it.

9. She would make you the best birthday cake, so good you'll be able to taste it years later.

Val Bake Off

That Victoria sponge she made on your tenth birthday, with buttercream and handmade jam...

dribbles

**8. Nothing is too much of an ask. **

Nanna can you sew this? Can you bake me 394294 cupcakes for my school cake sale?

'Of course love!'

7. She'll call you 'love' because she just can't quite remember your name.

But you'll just shrug it off.

**6. No one can make a Yorkshire pudding as good as her. **

Duh.

**5. She's always got those flushed baking cheeks **

Val Bake Off

**4. She smells utterly amazing **

A mixture of *cake, talcum powder and that lavender bath stuff EVERYONE buys her at Christmas.

Eau du Val.

*We haven't actually smelt Val but this is what we imagine her to smell like.

**3. She's always encouraging you to stay positive, even though things are crumbling before your very eyes **

Val GBBO ark

2. She sings and dances in the kitchen whilst cooking/baking/washing up/ironing/doing everything

Watching her is like watching an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, but miles better.

1. Her smile lights up the whole entire room

Val Stones GBBO

Do you think Val is the best thing since sliced bread?

Tell us why over on Facebook and Twitter (@CloserOnline).

You might also like to read:

Selasi Gbormittah from The Great British Bake Off mentioned his girlfriend and NO ONE CAN COPE

11 reasons why Selasi Gbormittah off GBBO is our boyfriend, not yours

Simon Cowell brands Great British Bake Off move a 'mistake', plans to make rival show

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us