I have been meaning to write a blog entry about the latest series of ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ since it started several weeks ago. But I never managed to do so and tonight, with the last episode in the series just finished, I thought I’d get on with it before it’s totally irrelevant!

It still amazes me how people continue to be afraid of good, old Ms. Portas - or is it Mrs. Portas now that she’s married? Hang on, how does the name change work in same sex marriages? Going off on a tangent… ignore me.

I thought people applied to Mary’s show for help with their businesses but some of the applicants actually have other agendas… Remember Angela, the baker from Raynes Park? It turned out that all she wanted out of the whole experience was a free makeover – forget about Mary’s invaluable advice, Angela had been in the bakery business for 36 years so she knew better.

In fact, everybody seems to think they know better than Mary, so bother calling her in? Seriously, I think that, with the exception of perhaps the couple that run the village shop in Dorset, all the other retailers argued that Mary’s ideas might work in fashion but their businesses were different. Why can’t people see that Mary’s expertise in fashion retail can actually be applied to other types of retail? Are they blind or simply acting in self-defence to avoid the embarrassment of coming across as a bit 'inept' for the job? Probably the latter, I would have thought.

But Mary is no quitter and no matter how much of a challenge a business (and its boss) can be, she will always try her very best to turn any business around, if she is allowed to get on with it, of course – you can’t help someone that actually doesn’t want your help…

I wonder what type of businesses Mary will be dealing with in the next series but I’m pretty sure it’ll be just as interesting and I’ll definitely be watching it - and keeping a close eye on the stunning statement jewellery Mary wears. Hopefully one day, she will choose a chunky necklace from Caradiaz!

Mary Portas flanked by the owners of '3 Sisters' greengrocers in Merseyside
Picture courtesy of the BBC Press Office