“Filming with royalty was lovely!
Mary Berry opens up about the struggles and joys of lockdown, some of her career highlights, and the amazing adventures she had while filming her new BBC show
When Mary Berry departed the Great British Bake Off in 2016, many expected the then 81-year-old star to slow down a little – perhaps even retire from the limelight, after seven years as a judge on the hit show. But since then, Mary’s schedule has been busier than ever.
Just a few months later, she returned to our screens with Mary Berry Everyday on BBC1, and has gone on to front several more of her own series. Now at 85, she appears to have the energy of a woman half her age, which she puts down to maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy diet.
“I keep fit by walking the dogs with my husband Paul, and I play tennis with the same friends I’ve played with for 25 years,” says Mary. “I also have a balanced diet and I stay away from second helpings or snacking.
But I’ll always have a piece of chocolate in the evening with my cup of coffee!”
It’s this approach that has helped her maintain her slender figure over the years – even when sampling up to 36 cakes a day filming Bake Off. It has also kept her trim during her latest series, Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts, which started on BBC2 earlier this month. The six-parter has seen her sampling delicious pastries in Paris and hearty fish and chips in Whitby, as well as making her own warming dishes in her kitchen. However, Mary insists that not all of the recipes are calorieladen.
“I think there are a lot of healthy comfort foods and I’ve included extra vegetables in some of the dishes – plus, they’re all sensible-sized portions.”
In between cooking,
Mary was riding with huskies in beautiful Scottish woodland, and in a sidecar in Cork along the butter route to meet a chocolatier. She tried her hand at being a cox on the River Thames with the Henley Rowing Club, too.
Travelling so extensively for the series is something she’s grateful for, especially
“I think there are a lot of healthy comfort foods…”
as lockdown began just a couple of months after filming finished. Mary admits she found those months worrying, like most people.
“It was a very anxious time, but Paul and I did get into a routine,” says Mary, referring to her husband of 54 years. “The day was broken up with meals and although we don’t watch much television, we loved TheRepairShop!
“We only watched shows with happy endings or programmes that would teach us something, though.”
Even so, she admits to sorely missing her friends and family.
“It was very strange not to have visitors during lockdown. I was always cooking just for two, which is a little bit boring for me!” she laughs. “I often have the family for lunch or supper, and they come over to test recipes I’ve been making for TV series.”
Mary and Paul have three children together, Thomas, William and Annabel, though sadly William was killed in a car crash when he was 19 years old. Her family, including her five grandchildren, are clearly her pride and joy. They are also her biggest critics – not that she minds.
“I get comments from them which I really appreciate. They say, ‘Oh, there wasn’t enough pastry on the top of that!’ or ‘Could we have beans in that one’, they are always full of ideas.”
Mary has achieved a lot in her career; before Bake Off, she had already penned countless cookery books and fronted a host of other mainstream shows.
She admits she has plenty of “pinch me” moments – including filming BBC1’s A Berry Royal Christmas, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
“To think I spent such a lovely time with them, and that one day they will be the King and Queen! That programme is up there with my biggest highlights,” she smiles.
Mary Berry’ s Simple Comforts continue son Wednesday at 8pmon BBC2. The accompanying book, Mary Berry Simple Comforts, is out now.