It’s been a red-letter weekend for the titans of British broadcasting. Not only was itDavid Attenborough’s 100th birthdayand the attendant hoopla, butMary Berry was honoured with the Bafta Fellowshipfor her exceptional contribution to television. The cookery writer and presenter received the prestigious gong during Sunday’s ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
With a small-screen CV spanning six decades, Berry first appeared in the 1970s. She has since built an impressive list of credits across every major broadcaster and become beloved by generations of viewers.
Her role as an original judge onThe Great British Bake Offhelped make it a huge international hit, connecting the culinary contest to its village fête roots and ensuring it was grounded in warmth, generosity and encouragement, rather than cut-throat competition. In the process, Berry inspired a resurgence in home baking and spawned an entire genre of gentle, craft-based factual programming.
The Bafta Fellowship, its highest honour, is a fitting tribute to a legacy that has enriched the lives of millions. As the doyenne of dough herself says, “For over 50 years, I have enjoyed every moment of teaching my passion on television. I thank all the generous professionals along the way who have given me guidance and support – and I am still learning. This amazing Bafta Fellowship is the icing on the cake.”
We pay homage with a retrospective of Dame Mary’s 13 – well, it is a baker’s dozen – tastiest TV moments. From cooking with royalty to cheeky cameos on other shows, here are Berry’s best bits.
Rolling with the Waleses (2019)
For a festive special,A Berry Royal Christmas, she teamed up with the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to throw a party for some of the charities they support. Berry herself picked it as her proudest TV moment. “William and Catherine put their whole hearts into it and achieved great things, with a lot of laughter,” she said.
As the couple got competitive over making meringue roulades, conversation flowed and we learned snippets, such as William making a mean breakfast and once trying to impress Kate at university by whipping up spaghetti bolognese. When it came to judging the roulades, Berry was winningly diplomatic: “I have to say it’s a draw, because I’m not quarrelling with either of you.” Well played.
Tearful at tent triumph (2015)
The penultimate series ofThe Great British Bake Offto air on the BBC was one of the best, climaxing with an uplifting win for Nadiya Hussain, a full-time mum from Luton. Having watched her confidence blossom and her baking improve over the past 10 weeks, judge Berry was touchingly proud of Hussain’s achievement. In a lip-wobbling speech, she said: “Nadiya has grown and grown, and I enjoyed every minute.” Overcome by emotion, she tearfully walked out of shot.
Cameo in the Traitors castle (2023)
A Comic Relief sketch riffing on BBC hitThe Traitorshas since become an annual event, but this was the original and best. Dawn French played presenter Claudia Winkleman – “half woman, half fringe” – presiding over a Round Table showdown between famous faces. The VIP cast list included Stephen Merchant, Jennifer Saunders, Alison Hammond, Danny Dyer, David Gandy, Anne Robinson, Guy Fawkes (kind of) and Ewan McGregor asStar Wars’ Obi-Wan Kenobi. And then, removing her cloak’s hood, there was Berry, who exclaimed “Come on, everybody, this is a piece of cake.” When she then started tucking into a slice of red velvet, Obi-Wan told her: “Use the fork, Mary.”
Scone but not forgotten (1979)
An early TV sighting saw a fresh-faced Berry teaching viewers how to make scones on Thames Television’s daytime showAfternoon Plus. Sure, it’s not nearly as slick as it would be nowadays, but there are signs of her popular touch. This is old-fashioned, no-nonsense home baking. No stand mixers or gadgetry, just her hands and hard-won skill. She even reassures the audience that they don’t need special equipment. If you don’t have a rolling pin, use a milk bottle. If you don’t have a pastry cutter, use a glass. She was like everybody’s favourite Home Economics teacher.
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Innuen-doughs (2010-2016)
It was Berry who coined the dreaded phrase “soggy bottom” – aBake Offstaple still deployed to this day. Other memorable double entendres from the mischievous Dame included, “Oh no, you have irregular-shaped balls”, “They’ve got a good forking”, “Your crack is nice and moist”, and “It’s all in the wrist action”. She somehow kept a straight face when telling series three winner John Whaite: “I like your sausage.” But a nation did a double-take when she stood next to a contestant, peered down at his bowl of whisked egg white and said approvingly: “There it is, looking perfectly stiff.”
Baking in her blood (2014)
Exploring her ancestry on BBC genealogy seriesWho Do You Think You Are?, Berry was thrilled to discover that her great-great-grandfather, Robert Houghton, had been a successful master baker in Norwich during the 1860s. Professing herself to be “full of admiration” for Robert’s entrepreneurial spirit, she pondered how it mirrored her own culinary career and strong work ethic. “I really can say there’s baking in my family,” she grinned.
Strictly come baking (2013)
When theStrictly Come Dancingprofessional troupe performed a baking-themed group dance toIf I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked a CakeandCandyman, there was a surprise in store. And not just judges Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood donning chef’s hats to take part. At the climax of the routine, Berry popped up out of a giant sparkly wedding cake with sheer glittery glee written all over her face. She’s a bigStrictlyfan who has also appeared in the studio audience and on the balcony, but Berry has declined offers to compete, joking that she has “two left feet”.
Air-punch at the NTAs (2017)
At the viewer-voted National Television Awards, Berry was shortlisted for Best TV Judge, but faced stiff competition from the likes of Len Goodman and Simon Cowell. She was endearingly delighted to win, even unleashing an uncharacteristic fist-pump on her way up to the stage. Her sweet acceptance speech began with a fond mention of William and Molly fromGogglesprogs, who’d presented the award. “Nobody is ever smaller than me,” she grinned. “But look at these little treasures.”
Being kind to celebrity bakers (2015-2016)
While Paul Hollywood played bad cop, Berry was always unfailingly polite to the bakers, her critiques erring on the side of constructive. This proved a struggle during the celebrity specials, when famous faces cooked up all manner of monstrosities. ErstwhileTelegraphcolumnist Victoria Coren Mitchell left Berry speechless with her Bloody Mary muffins (“Such fun but I’m not really enjoying them”) and Sailing Around The World showstopper, which was so oversalted that Berry’s mouth dropped open, and she said, with understatement, “I’ve come across some salt”.
She also nearly choked on a beach hut-shaped sponge cake by Zoë Sugg (aka Zoella). “It’s slightly overbaked,” said Berry with vast understatement. “A little bit dry.” Struggling to finish her mouthful, she spluttered that she needed a “drop of water to get it down”.
Baking for the Queen (2022)
In the year of the Platinum Jubilee – “Platty Joobs”, as it was widely dubbed – who better than Berry to lead the search for a cake fit for a Queen? BBC specialThe Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years in the Bakingfollowed a nationwide competition which saw 5,000 home bakers whittled down to one champion. AlongsideMasterChef’s Monica Galetti, Berry made the perfect figurehead. And the suitably celebratory winning pud? A lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle, created by Jemma Melvin from Southport. Another portion, ma’am?
Fondant death stare (2014)
It became known as “Fondantgate” among fans. When theBake Offshowstopper challenge was to make a 3D biscuit scene, judge Berry warned: “We don’t want to see anything bought in. We want it all home-made.” Baker Enwezor Nzegwu created a “space-age moon adventure” but there were gasps at home when the business consultant from Portsmouth freely admitted to using shop-bought fondant. Paul Hollywood told him: “That, for me, is an issue.” Berry just doom-stared at him in horror. Precisely nobody was surprised when Enwezor was duly sent packing.
Becoming a catchphrase (2020-present)
You might well not watchThe Masked Singer. We somehow doubt that Berry does either. Yet she’s become a running joke on ITV’s guess-the-disguised-crooner game show, thanks to panellist Jonathan Ross. Whenever he spots a cooking reference among the cryptic clues, he will loudly insist that Berry is beneath the costume. It’s become a recurring theme across seven series as Ross gestures at a scarecrow, panda or giant jacket potato (as a few genuine examples) and confidently declares: “It’s Mary Berry, ladies and gentleman!” Perhaps someday he’ll be proved correct.
Bowing out of Bake Off (2016)
When Channel 4 snapped up the hit show after seven years, the ever-loyal Berry declined the chance to “follow the dough” and stuck with the BBC. Her final episode featured a fond farewell, with a montage of her best bits, Hollywood telling her “Well done, Bezza” and a close-up of four cakes which spelt out “Thank you and goodbye”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the tent – nor on sofas nationwide.
The 2026 Bafta Television Awards is on BBC iPlayer
It’s been a red-letter weekend for the titans of British broadcasting. Not only was itDavid Attenborough’s 100th birthdayand the attend...
