Berry original! Bake Off Mary back on the Beeb.. as judge in a cookery competition

GREAT British Bake Off star Mary Berry will repeat a winning recipe by becoming lead judge of a new cookery series – on BBC1.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, Britain’s Best Cook will pair Mary, 83, with a second expert to judge 10 wannabe star cooks.

But it won’t be her former sidekick Paul Hollywood, as he “followed the dough” when the BBC lost Bake Off to Channel 4 for £75million.

With decades in home cooking and author of 75 recipe books, Mary was said to be a “natural choice” for the show which launches next year.

Contenders as her No2 are likely to include ex-saturday Kitchen host James Martin, Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain and TV cook Lorraine Pascale.

CLASSICS

The eight-part series challenges contestants to serve the best version of dishes that define modern British home cooking, plus their own take on well-loved classics.

Mary, who encountered Claudia’s hilarious culinary skills on Comic Relief Does Bake Off in 2013, said: “I am never more at home than when I have my judging hat on.

“This series is going to encourage proper home cooking which I have always championed.”

Claudia, 45, quipped: “Am slightly obsessed with Mary so will follow her around with my own moussaka for most of the filming.” Like Bake Off, which kicks off on C4 next month, the cooks will be challenged over several rounds in a bid to stay in.

After C4 snatched Bake Off, Mary quit along with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. Britain’s Best Cook is seen by some TV insiders as the BBC “copycatting” Bake Off, with one saying: “Not exactly original is it? Mary Berry judging a cooking show. Come on.”

But last night the BBC insisted: “They’re different shows.”