Mary Berry trained at The Cordon Bleu in Paris and Bath School of Home Economics. In the swinging ‘60s she became the cookery editor of Housewife magazine, followed by Ideal Home magazine.
Her first television series Afternoon Plus with Judith Chalmers came out in the early ‘70s. Three children later she continued through the ‘80s writing books and filming television series for BBC from her home in Buckinghamshire.
She started the ‘90s by launching her Aga Workshops, a cookery school at home, with over twelve thousand visitors over sixteen years. In the mid ‘90s her daughter Annabel launched Mary Berry’s Salad Dressing and has since sold the company.
Mary has continued to do demonstrations at the Good Food Show events, write books and do media work. Most notably she has been a judge on The Great British Bake Off, The Junior Bake Off, Comic Relief Bake off and Sports Relief Bake Off from 2009 to 2016.
Mary often appears as a guest on many programmes on radio and TV. Mary is a regular presenter for BBC RHS Chelsea Flower Show programmes.
From 2014 Mary has had her own cooking shows on BBC1 and BBC2 including Mary Berry Cooks, Foolproof Cooking, Mary Berry's Classic, Mary Berry's Quick Cooking, Mary Berry's Simple Comforts, Mary Berry Love to Cook, Mary Makes it Easy and Mary's Foolproof Dinners. From 2018 to 2021 Mary was one of the judges on Best Home Cook, a BBC1 cooking competition series. In 2019 Mary presented the Christmas show A Very Royal Christmas, a one hour BBC special with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Mary judged and presented for both the 2022 BBC show The Jubilee Pudding: 70 years In The Baking in collaboration with Queen Camilla and in 2023 The Coronation Dish to celebrate the King Charles Coronation. In 2023 Mary also presented A Highland Christmas as a BBC1 special.
Mary has written over 80 cookery books and continues to write each year to accompany her BBC television series. Mary wrote her Autobiography Recipe for Life in 2013.
Mary continues to write books with Lucy Young, her assistant of over thirty five years.
Mary’s mission: To get everyone baking and cooking at home
2024
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas special
Judge for Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards
2023
BBC1 Presented and judged The Coronation Dish to celebrate King Charles Coronation
Guest Editor for Gardeners World TV programme
2022
Head Judge for BBC One’s ‘The Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years In The Baking’ in collaboration with Queen Camilla
2021
Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts Xmas Special
2020
Awarded Damehood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Guest Editor for Countryfile BBC1
2019
A ‘Very Royal Christmas TV Special’ with the Prince and Princes of Wales
Fortnum and Mason Personality of the Year Award
2018
Woman & Home Celebrity Doing Good Award
2017
National Television Award for Best TV Judge.
TV Choice Outstanding Achievement Award
2016
BAFTA Award Features Programme Great British Bake Off
TV Choice Award Great British Bake Off
Good House Keeping Award Food Book of the Year
National Garden Scheme President
Mary Berry Rose launched at RHS Chelseas Flower Show by Harkness roses
2015
Observer Monthly Lifetime Achievement Award.
RHS Ambassador
2014
Honoured as Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Bakers of London
Honoured as Freedom of the City of London
2013
BAFTA Award Features Programme Great British Bake Off
Honoured as Freedom of the City of Bath
2012
CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
BAFTA Award Features Programme Great British Bake Off.
Honorary Degree Bath Spa University
2009
Lifetime Achievement Award from Guild of Food Writers
2008
Patron Child Bereavement UK