Profile

MARY BERRY is the doyenne of family cookery, and specialises in Aga cookery and cakes and desserts. She is a regular contributor to TV and radio food programmes and has written over 50 best selling cookery books, including the classic Aga Cookbook and now teaches Aga cookery courses at her home in Buckinghamshire.

Biography

Mary Berry, besides being known to millions through her recent series, Great British Bake Off on BBC 2 prime time and various other shows, is the writer of more than 50 popular cookbooks, many of which deal with family cookery and some exclusively with cakes and desserts. She often makes guest appearances on Woman's Hour, had a regular cookery slot on BBC Radio 2's Debbie Thrower Programme, and she takes part in local radio phone-in programmes. Mary has been cookery editor of Ideal Home and was a member of the Council of Food from Britain. Mary was also a regular contributor to Saturday Cooks (ITV 1) and Christmas Cooks! (ITV1). Mary has also recently appeared on Celebrity Cash in the Attic (BBC 1) and Supersizers Go…1950s broadcast prime-time BBC 2.

2011 has been one of her most exciting yet, as she has been back to judge on BBC 2’s Great British Bake-Off (series 2), Junior Great British Bake-Off(CBBC) as well as Celebrity Great British Bake-Off (BBC 2 Prime Time), all due for broadcast later this year.  All this follows a Great British Bake-Off Royal Wedding Special of the show, which was broadcast in April 201 and the publication of a tie-in book to which Mary contributed the foreword and some top tips throughout, published in August 2011 (BBC Books).

Mary's cookery demonstrations are very popular around the country. Her particular expertise is in preparing good value family dishes which are easy to turn out, spectacular to look at, and absolutely delicious to eat.

Her recent publications include Mary Berry's New Aga Cookbook (Headline), Mary Berry Complete Cookbook and The New Cook (Dorling Kindersley), Ultimate Cakes and Cooking at Home (BBC Books) and her latest books are Mary Berry's Christmas Collection (Headline), One Step Ahead (Quadrille), Real Fast Food (Headline), Mary Berry’s Stress-free Kitchen (Headline) and Mary Berry and Lucy Young Cook Up a Feast (DK). She has also presented two videos with books for the BBC during 1997. Sales of Mary's books have exceeded 4 million.

Mary Berry's Ultimate Cakes was broadcast as a BBC series on daytime television and her accompanying book reached the bestseller charts, selling more than 160,000 copies. She has also recorded At Home With Mary Berry, which was broadcast during October 1996 on BBC2, with a revised version on air on BBC1 during May 1997 as well as Collector's Lot. She has appeared regularly on Carlton Food Network and, more recently has made several appearances on Saturday Kitchen on BBC1 and started 2004 with several appearances on the Terry & Gaby show. Recently, Mary has been a regular guest on ITV 1's Saturday Cooks! and Daily Cooks!.

She was invited by Christmas Pudding maker Matthew Walker to join forces in the development of a new luxury recipe product that was sold in the shops for Christmas 1998. The Mary Berry Luxury Pudding is unique in using butter rather than vegetable fat and it has a lighter colour, light texture and truly rich taste. Mary has also enjoyed considerable success with her range of jams and salads dressings.

Mary runs successful Aga workshops from her home in Buckinghamshire. To date, 11,000 Aga owners have attended. The Mail on Sunday You magazine quoted 'Mary Berry is to Aga what Pavorotti is to opera'! and a recent BBC Good Food Magazine article on cookery courses voted Mary's courses as the best Aga courses available.

Updated 25/08/2011