CHILDREN’S MOANS MADE ME A BETTER COOK
MARY V DELIA
Age: 81 Family: Married Paul Hunnings in 1966, had three children but lost son, William. Lives: Buckinghamshire Net worth: £15million Favourite football team: Everton TV HIT Delia Smith Age: 75 Family: Married Michael Wynn-Jones in 1971. Lives: Suffolk Net worth: Believed to be more than £30million Favourite football team: Norwich City MARY Berry says having children gives her an “advantage” in the kitchen over her fellow TV cook Delia Smith.
The former Great British Bake Off judge said her family are her toughest critics, and believes Delia could have benefited from children dishing out criticism.
Mum-of-three Mary, 81, said: “Because I’ve got children, I’m very lucky because they say, ‘Don’t do that again, mum’.
“I always feel that Delia, who is absolutely brilliant, hasn’t had the advantage of having children like I have because you don’t get half the truths.”
She added: “I get truths from my husband, too, and sometimes I get really hurt.”
Delia, 75, has previously said she “would have loved” to have had children but “it wasn’t to be”. She said in 1999 that she and her husband were unable to have children.
But she said not having them was “maybe one of the reasons I’ve been so successful”.
Mary insisted she was friends with Delia and has even cooked for the star at her home.
She also praised food critic Prue Leith, 77, her Bake Off replacement. Mary said: “I’m delighted Prue has been chosen.
“She has the knowledge, she has the personality. I think she will be incredibly different, but I think she will do really well.”
Prue joins judge Paul Hollywood, 51, when the show moves to Channel 4 later this year.
Mary stayed with the BBC, where her Everyday series airs, after the broadcasters lost the rights to the baking contest.
Last year, Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the Tory leadership race after she caused a row by suggesting she would make a better leader than Theresa May because she had children.
She claimed being a mum meant she had a “tangible stake” in the country’s future.