mary berry travel show

MARY BERRY'S COUNTRY HOUSE SECRETS: Highclere Castle

Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / Watch on demand now with KPBS Passport!

On this episode of MARY BERRY'S COUNTRY HOUSE SECRETS , Mary visits Highclere Castle , the real-life DOWNTON ABBEY, home to the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Inspired by what she discovers Mary takes to the estate kitchen where she creates a delicious spread from raspberry tartlets to gamekeeper's stew. and an elaborate menu for a grand finale dinner.

About The Series:

Mary Berry is given an exclusive invitation to some of the UK's most lavish country houses. Mary is whisked away from the well-trodden tourist paths to meet the families who own these exceptional homes and their knowledgeable, dedicated staff. Revealing life both upstairs and downstairs, she will visit the gardens, kitchens and private quarters, unearthing secrets that only friends and family usually get to see. Inspired by what she discovers, Mary will take to the house kitchens to create her own scrumptious dishes, that celebrate the heritage and legacy of these extraordinary homes.

Each episode culminates in a unique feast marrying the past with the present while paying homage to rich the history and influence of the Estate. Famed for their lavish hospitality, Mary will visit stately homes Highclere Castle AKA DOWNTON ABBEY in Hampshire, glorious Goodwood House (Encore Monday, Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV) in Sussex, the exquisite Powderham Castle (Encore Monday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV) in Devon and the regal Scone Palace in Perthshire, Scotland (Encore Monday, Nov. 28 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV).

Marry Berry is on Facebook

Watch On Your Schedule:

This series is available on demand with KPBS Passport , a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now .

With the PBS Video App , you can stream your favorite and local station shows. Download it for free on your favorite device. The app allows you to catch up on recent episodes and discover award-winning shows.

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Mary Berry heads to Scotland for ‘Highland Christmas’ special

The BBC has announced details of a festive special for Dame Mary Berry !

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas will see the former Bake Off judge visit her mother’s homeland of Scotland.

“Christmas in Scotland is the biggest treat,” Berry said.

“My mother and her family were Scottish so it is a special place for me. The festive holidays are all about sharing special times with friends and family and so what better way than cooking some of my favourite dishes with a traditional Scottish twist.”

“Joined by special guests and surrounded by beautiful scenery, these are recipes which can be used all over the festive season and I can’t wait to share Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas with BBC One viewers,” she added.

The one-off Christmas show will see Mary Berry travel to the Highlands on an enchanting winter break.

We’re told that audiences will have the opportunity to recreate some of Mary’s favourite Christmas dishes, as well as those steeped in Scottish tradition, including a spectacular Cranachan wreath, indulgent cheese fondue and her classic Buche de Noel.

“But this isn’t just any Christmas,” teases the official synopsis, “this one is extra special and deeply meaningful for Mary because she’s spending it in her mother’s homeland, Scotland.

“Sprinkled amidst the abundance of rich cultural delights will be Mary reflecting on her heritage with fascinating anecdotes about her Scottish roots. She’s not going alone, accompanying her on this magical adventure will be special guests who’ll make this one a Christmas to remember.

“From her cosy winter retreat, Mary will be cooking up sumptuous seasonal dishes that won’t break the bank and in true winter style she’ll also be embarking on magical days out with friends from reindeer herding to Christmas carolers and a traditional ceilidh.

“As well as all the festive fun, the show will be packed full of Mary’s hints and hacks for the busy Christmas period for how to wow guests with a minimum of fuss, making a feast go further and her ingeniously simple kitchen tricks.”

“This Christmas, I’m delighted that Mary’s celebrating Scotland in epic fashion, with the help of some incredible recipes and some very special friends,” commented Catherine Catton, the BBC’s Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events.

“I can’t wait for audiences to discover all the indulgent, comforting dishes Mary’s got planned to take us through the Christmas holidays – from fondue with an extra-special twist to mouth-watering cranachan, Mary’s sure to inspire cooks across the nation once again.”

When’s it on?

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas will premiere in the UK at 9pm on Wednesday 13 December on BBC One , and streaming on BBC iPlayer .

We expect that the one-hour special will also arrive on BritBox in the US around the same time.

Mary Berry’s Christmas Collection book is available on Amazon .

• ← ‘Dodger’ is returning with a star-studded Christmas 2023 special
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Anglophenia

Dame mary berry has a new baking show coming out.

(Photo: Getty Images)  You may know Mary Berry from The Great British Bake Off as a judge from 2010-2016. Of course, she had a long and successful career prior to the competition show as a chef, writer, and TV presenter. And, here she is again, about to lead her own TV show for BBC Two, reports BBC Media Centre. There’s no name as of yet, but all of us can throw out some ideas. If it helps to provide some information on the show to come, we can get to naming it a bit later (in the comments section). BBC Media Centre has kindly released some details, writing: “The series will be guided by the nation’s much-loved cook as she shows us how to whip up her very best recipes - perfect to share at big gatherings, with small groups or even something special for two.” According to the description, the show will go beyond the kitchen: “Mary will travel to some of her favorite locations across the U.K. to meet others who come together over food, as part of family celebrations, to bring communities and generations together, and as the pinnacle of summer festivals and events." It’s not just the BBC who had some nice words to share, Berry released a statement, saying: “Sharing recipes is always an utter joy for me and this series is the ultimate guide, whether you are cooking for a crowd or just for two. I'm loving visiting some spectacular parts of the country at extraordinary events, gatherings and beautiful locations for this new series. I have always believed there is no better way to spend time with family and friends than over fresh home cooked food - and now more than ever that feels so important.” The series will be made up of six episodes, and you can look for Berry sharing multiple recipes, including a minted lamb casserole, tear and share bread, tin spiced chicken, and an avocado and ham toastie. Filming has begun but a release date has yet to come. In the meantime, let’s have a catch-up with Berry by turning to this roundup of fun facts. Circling back to the name of the show, do you have any suggestions!?

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Mary Berry, 88, gives health update as she finds 'new lease of life' since breaking hip

Great British Bake Off star and long-serving TV chef Mary Berry reveals her unlikely childhood nickname and the secret to a happy marriage after 56 years with husband Paul

• 07:30, 29 Oct 2023
• Updated 07:36, 30 Oct 2023

She’s 88 years old, a doyenne of broadcasting and is a Dame Commander of the British Empire – but that doesn’t mean Mary Berry is above camping in a tent with one of her best friends.

In her new BBC show, Mary Makes It Easy, Mary does just that with her old Great British Bake Off mucker Mel Giedroyc. Mel, 55, is a keen camper, and has asked Mary to show her some campfire recipes that will thrill her two grown-up daughters, Vita and Florence. So Mary rustles up a warming mushroom soup, a speedy veg ragù and even a chicken tartiflette.

There’s also hot chocolate at bedtime, with the two of them tucked up in their sleeping bags and enjoying a cosy chat using just their head torches for light. The pair have been friends for more than 20 years, so Mary didn’t hesitate to join Mel – who affectionately calls her Bez – out in the wild.

“We go back a long way and we like a lot of fun,” smiles Mary. “They all called me Bez in the Bake Off tent. We still keep it up when we ring each other and sign our names on cards. But not to anybody else.” The thought of camping was wonderful,” she adds. “It was Mel who put up the tent because I had no idea. It would have fallen down!”

With her immaculate blonde bob and colourful blouses, Mary is known for her refined good taste, but she’s never shied away from country pursuits. Her former Bake Off co-stars might call her Bez, but her first nickname was Scruffy – given to her by her father when she was a young child with a penchant for climbing trees. “I was an outdoor person. When I was a little girl that’s what I was – scruffy,” recalls Mary. “I couldn’t care less what I was wearing. It was wartime as well.”

These days Mary and her husband Paul Hunnings, 91, have swapped their respective hobbies of tennis and golf for garden croquet, which is their new passion. Mary credits croquet with giving her a new lease of life after she recovered from a broken hip. “Croquet is something for when you’re older,” says Mary, who enjoys the social aspect as well as the exercise.

“My husband was a great sportsman in his time and he can no longer play golf so we play croquet. It’s a great crowd and for a couple of hours you forget everything.” Mary finds it’s a great stress reliever. So much so that she heads out with her mallet rain or shine. “It takes you out of yourself, you meet different people and I just love it. We play in all weather, we just dress for it,” she smiles.

Mary and her husband Paul have been married for 56 years, and happily too. “I’m very lucky to have my husband. He’s 91 and I’m looking after him, I can tell you!” Mary says. The TV favourite admits that there have been arguments, but says they’ve always been able to work through things once they both realised it was important to be able to apologise.

“Settle an argument before you go to bed and learn to say, ‘Sorry, I was wrong,’” she says. “Sometimes we are wrong. I’ve learnt to say sorry and it’s important.”

There isn’t a lot that Mary hasn’t done in her long and varied career – except Strictly Come Dancing . So does she fancy a turn on the dance floor, in the arms of a leading professional? “I have not got Angela Rippon ’s legs,” says Mary. “There is absolutely no chance I’ll do Strictly. I’m not tempted in any way, ever.”

There are still new frontiers for Mary, though. Her new show sees her help radio star Jordan North with his dinner party menus and in return he teaches her to TikTok and play darts at the pub. “I was rubbish at darts!” she laughs. Mary adds that one of her favourite episodes was when she cooked with Michael Ball in a theatre. “One of my big treats was singing with Michael Ball and actually cooking in such a beautiful theatre. He was very keen to expand his repertoire.”

Mary received her DBE from Prince William in 2021 and the gong was especially resonant for her. “It hasn’t changed anything but I’m very pleased that I was the first cook to be made a dame. I’m not academic but I’ve done my very best to teach people how to cook, and to enjoy cooking as much as I do,” says Mary. “Quietly I’m very honoured. I wish my parents were at the end of the phone when that message came through but, of course, they are a long time in heaven.”

Mary had met Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales before, when they appeared on her festive special A Berry Royal Christmas in 2019. At the time she was impressed with the royals’ kitchen skills. “Catherine is a very good cook. She did piping, she did all sorts of things and she’s competitive,” reveals Mary. “They were cooking together, William and Catherine, and there was no doubt they were enjoying it. I remember they said, ‘Well, who’s won?’ and I said, ‘I think it’s a draw.’ They were so equal, it was quite right it was a draw.”

Mary Makes It Easy is on Thursday, 7.30pm, BBC Two. Mary Makes It Easy is published W by BBC Books, priced £28.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

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The Actual Reason Why Mary Berry Decided to Leave 'The Great British Baking Show'

Things got complicated for the chef in 2016.

As longtime viewers of the program already know, Mary and Paul were the original judges when the show first launched on the British network BBC Two back in 2010. Mary, who became iconic for her hatred of baked goods with "soggy bottoms," was front and center on Bake Off until 2016 — it was then that the show announced it would be moving to Channel 4. Much to everyone's surprise, Mary decided to walk away from her gig, along with then-presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins .

Why did Mary Berry leave The Great British Baking Show ?

According to Mary herself, she walked away from the tent of bakers out of "loyalty" to the BBC. "It was the BBC’s program, it grew there," she told RadioTimes.com . "So I decided to stay with the BBC, with Mel and Sue."

What's more, it sounds like Mary wasn't formally asked to continue on Bake Off when the series moved from BBC to Channel 4.

"Well, I avoided being asked. It was suggested what would happen if I did go to Channel 4; what I would get, the advantages. But I didn’t ever have a meeting with them," she revealed. "I’d made up my mind. To me it’s an honor to be on the BBC. I was brought up on it."

Of course, Mary had no problem finding other ways to keep busy after departing The Great British Baking Show . She went on to appear in several British TV shows, including Loose Women , Strictly Come Dancing , and This Morning . She also got to host her very own mini-series, Classic Mary Berry , and the TV series Mary Berry's Quick Cooking . What's even cooler, she's becoming a dame in Britain after appearing on the Queen's birthday honors list.

In short, Mary is still thriving even after saying goodbye to all those soggy bottoms four years ago.

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• Cast & crew

Mary Berry: Love to Cook

• TV Mini Series

Dame Mary Berry shares her love of cooking through some exceptional dishes, from those that will inspire beginners, or put budget at their heart without sacrificing flavour, to recipes that ... Read all Dame Mary Berry shares her love of cooking through some exceptional dishes, from those that will inspire beginners, or put budget at their heart without sacrificing flavour, to recipes that will please a hungry crowd. Dame Mary Berry shares her love of cooking through some exceptional dishes, from those that will inspire beginners, or put budget at their heart without sacrificing flavour, to recipes that will please a hungry crowd.

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• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• November 11, 2021 (United Kingdom)
• United Kingdom
• British Broadcasting Corporation (United Kingdom)
• Sidney Street Productions
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Endemol Shine UK
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'Mary Berry Makes It Easy' Will Be A 'Baking Show' Reunion

Mary Berry in 'Mary Berry Makes It Easy'

Craig Harman 2023 ©Banijay UK

When Mary Berry left The Great British Baking Show after Season 7, she refused to head to Channel 4 along with the series due to her longstanding relationship with the BBC. She's been doing stand-and-stir presentations on British television since the 1970s as the resident cook on Afternoon Plus with Judith Chalmers . She has been on the air hosting her own shows, including Mary Berry at Home, Mary Berry's Cooking the Books, Mary Berry Cooks , and Mary Berry's Absolute Favorites , to name a few. 

Her latest series, Mary Berry Makes It Easy , brings the octogenarian back to television for another six-episode round of recipes based on her latest cookbook, which, naturally, is of the same name. The series aired on BBC Two in November 2023 to rave reviews in the U.K., as Berry's series usually do, followed by her holiday special, Mary Berry's Highland Christmas , which aired and streamed on PBS Passport over here during the 2023 holidays. PBS will follow Highland Christmas with Makes it Easy as part of the February 2024 lineup.

Mary Berry Makes It Easy will stream on PBS Passport for members as a binge and air on local PBS stations as a weekly series. For fans of The Great British Baking Show , the series will be an extra treat, not just as a counter to the overly-heavy Paul Hollywood version of the show that is now on Netflix or as a new weekly dose of Berry, but because the new series includes a GBBO reunion of sorts.

Mel Giedroyc and Mary Berry in 'Mary Berry Makes It Easy'

2023 © Neil Genower 

Here's the synopsis:

Mary Berry is going to ‘make it easy’ over six delicious episodes, as she comes to the aid of some well-known and much-loved friends – both old and new – who are each struggling with a different cooking dilemma. Mary shows them – and the viewers – just how easy preparing mouth-watering food can be with her brilliant, easy-to-follow new recipes. Mary Makes iIt Easy is Mary Berry at her heart-warming best: just simple cooking and a beautifully produced series.

Berry will be joined by different celebrities in each episode, with her former co-star on The Great British Baking Show , Mel Giedroyc, as one of the highlights of the six-episode series. Others include TV presenters and British celebrities like AJ Odudu ( The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice ), Jordan North ( Double Trouble ), Michael Ball ( Les Misérables ), Anton Du Beke ( Strictly Come Dancing ), Lorraine Kelly ( Lorraine ), and Rosie Kelly Smith ( The Cube ).

Mary Berry Makes It Easy will premiere on PBS Passport with all six episodes on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas

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Ani Bundel has been blogging professionally since 2010. A DC native, Hufflepuff, and Keyboard Khaleesi, she spends all her non-writing time taking pictures of her cats. Regular bylines also found on MSNBC, Paste, Primetimer, and others. 

A Woman's Place Is In Your Face. Cat Approved. Find her on BlueSky and other social media of your choice: @anibundel.bsky.social

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Mary Berry's Transformation Is Seriously Turning Heads

With her charming personality, dashing style, and strong distaste for "soggy bottomed" pastries, Mary Berry established herself as the world's queen of baked goods while rising to international fame as host of The Great British Baking Show . But her sixty-plus year career is far more extensive and impressive than just the few seasons she spent judging the popular cooking competition show.

Over the years, Berry has worked as a food journalist, television personality, and prolific cookbook author. On the personal side, she's been happily married for six decades, according to  Hello!   magazine, is a leading philanthropist, and last year was even awarded damehood (via BBC ).

So how did Mary Berry go from struggling school student who was nearly paralyzed for life to one of the world's most prominent chefs who can lay claim to having more television shows than you can count and hanging out with literal royalty ? Let's unpack how the queen of baking's impressive transformation has been turning heads for years.

Mary Berry discovered her love for cooking at school

It didn't take long for Mary Berry to discover her love for baking, as it happened while she was still just a schoolchild. This fateful encounter occurred not because Berry was immediately drawn to cooking, but instead was due to the fact that she wasn't a particularly good student in any other subject.

According to the biography Mary Berry: The Queen of British Baking , young Berry struggled with traditional school subjects like math and Latin. But one teacher noticed Berry's skill at cooking in her Domestic Science course. "It was all, 'could try harder' until I gave up Latin and Maths and went to the Domestic Science department," she recalled. "Miss Date was the teacher and she was wonderful! Miss Date praised me, she helped me, she encouraged me." This encouragement would prove to be fateful indeed for young Mary.

That was all the guidance Berry would need to plunge into the world of cooking. She excelled in the course and has never looked back. Berry even remembers the first thing she cooked in school. It was a dessert, of course, a treacle sponge pudding that, according to  The Telegraph , was so good that Berry's father compared it favorably to her own mother's recipe.

Mary Berry contracted polio at the age of 13

Not long after Mary Berry discovered what would become her lifelong passion, she was dealt a nearly fatal blow. Shortly after her 13th birthday Mary was diagnosed with polio , according to her biography . Polio is a life-threatening viral disease that affects the spinal cord and can cause paralysis and, in severe cases, death (via CDC ). Berry contracted the disease less than five years before the development of the polio vaccine.

Because there were very few treatment options at the time, she faced the very real possibility of paralysis. Berry was kept in isolation at the hospital for a full month and then at a separate orthopedic hospital for another two months. Fortunately, she was fortunately able to make a full recovery.

The disease did leave her with one physical remnant, however — her "funny left hand," as she calls it (via Express ). Berry's weakened left hand is slightly misshapen and somewhat smaller than her right. While she often leaves it out of view on camera, Berry claims her damaged hand doesn't prevent her from much. "Everybody thinks I've got arthritis," she told Express . "I look a bit funny when I'm rolling pastry, but I have no other difficulties whatsoever." Her childhood disease also led her to enthusiastically support the Covid-19 vaccine. "If you're in a hospital like I was, with people in callipers, people in pain," she said, "I think everyone should take the vaccine" (via BBC ).

Mary Berry studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu

As Metro reports, Mary Berry continued her culinary training at the Bath College of Domestic Science, where she studied catering and institutional management. After graduating, she got a job with the local electricity board, which meant that she would travel to customers' homes to demonstrate how to use ovens. The demonstration usually involved Berry baking a Victoria sponge cake .

It was during this time that Berry was able to convince her boss to sponsor her for a month-long course at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris. As fortunate as Berry was to have this opportunity, it wasn't an easy experience. Classes were taught in French and, although the tuition was paid for, Berry still had to finance room and board, which was a challenge. According to Express , she stayed at a hostel and ate only baguettes during her time in the City of Light.

She completed the course, however, and even went on to gain acclaim from her old school. In 2012, Le Cordon Bleu reported that Berry had received an Honorary Diploma from the culinary school as recognition "for her vocation and contribution to the culinary arts."

After her studies, Mary Berry moved into food journalism

After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, Mary Berry did not wind up where you would expect, which you may assume would have been in a professional kitchen somewhere, baking delectable treats. Instead, according to her website , Berry took a different culinary path into food journalism.

In the 1960s, Berry became the cookery editor for Housewife magazine, according to Mary Berry: The Queen of British Baking . She didn't so much accept the position but was rather told to do it. The current cookery editor had gone abroad and the magazine needed a replacement. They called Berry's workplace, a PR firm called Bensons where she was employed as a recipe tester, and asked if they knew of a qualified replacement. Without checking with Berry, her boss told the magazine she would do it. "My boss said, ' Housewife 's cookery editor has gone to Spain on a press trip and the pages aren't done. You will do it,'" Berry recalled in an interview with BBC Radio's  Desert Island Discs .

And so began a busy and ultimately successful career of introducing readers to the world of food through the written word. Berry followed that first editorial job up with a stint at Ideal Home magazine, according to Mary Berry: The Queen of British Baking .

Mary Berry accepted her husband's marriage proposal on his third try

Mary Berry and her husband Paul Hunnings have been happily married for more than sixty years, as Hello!  magazine reports. It seems they were destined for each other –- but that wasn't always the case.

Berry met Paul through her brother, who was Paul's friend. Soon after, Mary and Paul began dating. But Paul was not the only man she was seeing. "I had another boyfriend in Bath, and he was in London and I used to go home at the weekend," she said. "Paul was the London one and I had a Bath one, actually there were several in Bath. You keep your options open."

When Paul decided to propose, he was apparently a little too inebriated for Berry's liking. "I do remember the first proposal and I think you were drunk," Mary said to him. "I think you had too much and I can remember telling you, you were drunk and thinking 'I'm not going to have anything to do with this man.' But you came back."

It's not clear what went wrong with the second proposal, but Berry rejected that offer as well. But third time proved to be the charm, although not the most romantic. On the third proposal, Paul said to his future wife, "I'm getting on in age, so either it's yes or no." It was a yes. And, of course, Mary Berry made her own wedding cake.

Mary Berry has been on television for nearly 50 years

Mary Berry's television career began way back in the early 1970s, according to IMDb . Her first regular series was Afternoon Plus , a collaboration with television presenter Judith Chalmers, according to Berry's website . By the 1990s, she was hosting her own shows, including 1994's Mary Berry's Ultimate Cakes and, in 1997, Mary Berry At Home , which showcased the chef cooking her favorite everyday meals in the comfort of a home kitchen.

In 2014, Berry hosted one season of Mary Berry Cooks. The show was a follow-up to the Berry's cookbook of the same name, which was released in February of that year (via Mary Berry ). The program followed Berry along as she delivered easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for creating delectable dishes and treats like strawberry jam (via BBC ).

In between all this cooking, Berry has made  plenty of appearances on other types of television shows. She's often featured on The Graham Norton Show, BBC Breakfast, and Woman's Hour,  among   many others, along with her participation in several televised charity events.

Mary Berry's son died when he was just 19

As fruitful as Mary Berry's life has been, she is no stranger to loss. In 1989, her son died suddenly in a tragic car accident. William Berry was home from college for the weekend when he asked to borrow the family car to get a copy of The Times newspaper. He and his sister Annabel were driving into town when the accident happened. Annabel was unharmed but William died. He was just 19 years old.

"He went out with Annabel and it was a beautiful sunny morning," she said in an interview with The Independent . "The doorbell rang, I went, and there was a policeman there [...] He said, I'm afraid to say your son has died.'"

Berry has since tried to use her loss to help others. She works closely with Child Bereavement UK, a charity that helps families following the death of a child. Over the years she has helped the organization raise money by participating in numerous fundraising events for the charity.

Mary Berry gained international acclaim as a host of The Great British Baking Show

After decades in front of the camera, Mary Berry was a well-known entity by 2010. But that year, her fame skyrocketed when she signed on to be a judge on a new BBC cooking competition called The Great British Baking Show , also known as The Great British Bake Off  to British viewers (via  Good Housekeeping ).

The premise of the show is straightforward enough. A group of amateur bakers face off in a series of baking challenges aired every week. One by one, they are eliminated until a winner is crowned and given a commemorative cake stand. The competition proved to be an immediate hit soon after its debut, bringing in 2 million viewers and only growing in popularity in later seasons (via The Guardian ). 

Viewers were particularly charmed by Berry and especially by her famous distaste for pastries with "soggy bottoms," as well as her chemistry with co-judge Paul Hollywood . It wasn't long before other versions of the show were popping up in countries around the world, as The Guardian   reports.

Not only was The Great British Baking Show a commercial success for Berry, but it provided her with some wide awards as well, such as when, in 2017, the UK's National Television Awards named her the Most Popular TV Judge (via IMDb ).

Mary Berry shocked fans when she left The Great British Baking Show

All good things must come to an end, it's said. Mary Berry surprised many fans when, in 2016, she announced she would be leaving The Great British Baking Show , proving that even supremely good things can't last forever (via Good Housekeeping ). Behind the scenes, the show was undergoing a bit of a transition. After seven seasons on BBC One, the show moved to a new home on Channel 4. At the same time, hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins left the program. In a move of solidarity, Berry chose to depart as well . "It was the BBC's program, it grew there," Berry said. "So I decided to stay with the BBC, with Mel and Sue." 

Thankfully, fans of Berry did not have to wait long to see her on television again. In 2017, she debuted two new shows on the BBC, Mary Berry Everyday and Mary Berry's Country House Secrets . Since then she has also hosted Classic Mary Berry , Mary Berry's Quick Cooking , and Mary Berry's Simple Comforts , along with multiple specials and guest spots (via Mary Berry ).

Mary Berry has become a style icon

In case Mary Berry wasn't perfect enough, she also knows how to put together an outfit. In fact, she has demonstrated such good fashion sense that she's made herself into a style icon. Berry's sartorial acumen rose to prominence during her tenure on The Great British Baking Show.

"Over the subsequent seven series she stealthily worked her way through a catalogue of bright punchy versions from Oasis, Damart and Ted Baker," The Guardian   wrote in 2016. "She introduced other tics, of course: fuchsia lipstick, her off-blonde lampshade of hair, a power clash of pink, but the bomber jackets were a cut above."

What makes Berry's style of particular importance within the fashion world and beyond is Berry's age. As The Guardian goes on to explain, we're simply not accustomed to older women on television making such bold wardrobe choices. "How older women represent themselves on TV has long stirred debate [...] but Berry's defiance in wearing "historically" youthful looks, such as the Marks & Spencer oversized stork print jacket and Preen's pink leather bomber jacket, suggested a turning point." Or, as Berry herself told  You magazine regarding her fashion choices: "I don't do boring."

Mary Berry has written more than 80 cookbooks

Nowadays, it's just about a requirement for a television chef to have a cookbook... or a dozen cookbooks. But Mary Berry has put nearly everyone in the culinary world to shame in this category, writing over 80 books during the course of her career. To be fair, she did have a head start, as she was writing about food before she ever jumped in front of the camera, and she has enjoyed a very long career of nearly five decades. Still, that's undeniably an impressive number of publications for anyone.

It started with the aptly title Mary Berry's Cookbook in 1970, followed two years later by Popular Freezer Cookery , which taught readers how to freeze food and use them in recipes later on. Other notable titles under Berry's name include Cook Now , Eat Later;   Baking Bible;   Fast Cakes;  and Mary Berry's Absolute Favorites . Her latest work, Simple Comforts , was just released last fall . It contains more than 120 easy-to-follow recipes that result in delicious comfort food.

Mary Berry has received Britain's highest individual honors

It's always an honor to be recognized for your work and Mary Berry has certainly received her fair share of acknowledgements. In fact, she has received the highest honors Britain can bestow on one of its citizens.

Per the BBC , in 2012, the chef was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). As The Gazette explains, this is the second-highest Order of the British Empire award. The CBE is given to an individual who has shown distinguished and innovative work in any one particular field, so you know this is a pretty big deal for Berry and other CBE honorees.

If that wasn't enough, in 2020, the BBC reports that Berry received damehood, thus giving her the official title of Dame Mary Berry. "When I was first told that I was going to be a dame, you don't really believe it," she told the BBC. "Then it's so exciting and you feel very proud." Berry joins an extremely prestigious list of those who have been named a dame or knight including Anna Wintour, Paul McCartney, and Judi Dench (via  Town & Countr y ).

Sticking to her humble nature, Berry said that the award, while a huge honor, won't really change her. "Being a dame is going to make no difference at all," she told the BBC. "I suppose it will be on the envelopes, won't it, when people write to me, but I'll still be the same person."

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A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Opens

The Berry College Theatre Company will open their spring season April 4, with the musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder".

The show runs April 4-7, Thursday to Saturday at 7 p.m. with a matinee performance on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at: www.berry.edu/onstage

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" follows Monty Narravo as he discovers that he is ninth in line to an earldom currently occupied by the well-known D'Y squith family. Soon after this discovery and his rejection by the lovely and vain Sibella Hayward, the eccentric members of the D'Ysquith family begin dying in mysterious ways. Along the way, Monty meets his distant cousin, the beautiful and naive Phoebe D'Y squith, placing him in the middle of a complicated love triangle.

Scott Willis, an artist affiliate at Berry, is directing the show.

"Directing A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder has been an absolute joy, filled with endless creativity and laughter throughout the production process,” Willis said. “From casting to rehearsals, every moment has been a delightful exploration of wit and charm. I've had the privilege of working with an incredibly talented cast and crew who have brought this comedic masterpiece to life with passion and dedication.”

Junior theatre major Mary Claire Page is playing the character Sibella Hayward.

"This show is nothing but pure joy and silliness from start to finish,” Page said. “It's hilarious, over-the-top, and everything you love about musical theatre. Sibella has been so much fun to play, and I hope audiences love her just as much as I do!"

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