Whilst still cooking and writing at 90, Dame Mary Berry, is taking a fascinating look back at her career in food, inspiring her to bring viewers new exciting recipes in a special six-part series on iPlayer and BBC Two.
Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking, produced by Sidney Street, sees Mary reflect on how much the way we cook has changed since the early days of her career in the 1960s.
Joined by much-loved friends, both old and new, Mary shows them how to make some of her all-time favourite recipes, sharing delightful tales from her culinary legacy through her personal archive collection and old footage.
As well as revisiting some of her most iconic dishes, she updates some classic recipes and introduces some brand-new recipes proving that even in her 90th year it’s never too late to try new things.
Each delectable episode features a well-known face including: gardening expert, Alan Titchmarsh, who admits he has never baked a cake; broadcaster and dear friend of Mary’s, Alex Jones, an enthusiastic but nervous cook; sports broadcaster, Gabby Logan, eager for time-saving recipes; globally-renowned chef, Jamie Oliver, a ‘kindred spirit’ who shares Mary’s love of cooking ‘simple and delicious’ family food; actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe who loves to host but is more at home making cocktails than food for his guests and comedian Tom Allen, who takes Mary on an eventful boat trip as they partake in their shared love of outside dining.
Mary says: “I can’t quite believe I’ve been cooking for 60 years. Looking back through the archives and my career, the time has just flown by. I’ve loved every minute of it and am still enjoying every minute of it.
“This series has been such a joy to make. What a trip down memory lane to share with some very special friends, old and new and of course the viewers. I’ve included some of my all-time favourite recipes – some with a new twist and exciting new ones too, which I hope will inspire people to enjoy cooking at home.”
Ricky Cooper, BBC Commissioning Editor, says: “This is a very special series. We’re thrilled Mary is sharing her treasured memories from such an illustrious career. I’m sure audiences across the UK will savour them and enjoy the incredible new and updated classic recipes cooked with love with some of the nation’s best-known faces. A fabulous way to celebrate the icon that is Dame Mary in this incredible milestone birthday year.”
Karen Ross, Executive Producer, Sidney Street, says: “What a privilege it’s been to make ‘Mary at 90’. Such a delightful series and testament to this incredible woman’s longevity as the country’s most trusted home cook. Along with the enthusiasm of our six stand-out celebrity guests, Mary’s passion, humour and endless energy for making us all better cooks has never been stronger! And Mary’s thrill at sharing some of her early days on TV not only shows how far our food has come, but also how wonderful her presence on our screens and in our kitchens has been for 60 glorious years.”
Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking is a 6 x 30’ series made by Sidney Street (a Banijay UK company) for BBC Two and iPlayer. It was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events, and the Commissioning Editor is Ricky Cooper. Karen Ross and Kelly Sparks are Executive Producers, Grainne Hallinan as Producer, Sarah Myland as Series Director and Rebecca Gilchrist as Production Manager.
Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking is expected to air later in the autumn.
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