Want to whet your appetite for Christmas? Settling down to watch A Mary Berry Christmas on BBC 1 will certainly get you in the mood.
If you caught the recent series to mark Mary Berry’s 90th birthday, _Mary At 90: A Lifetime Of Cooking_and need more of a Mary fix, or simply want some Christmas cooking tips, to wow family and friends, then this festive edition is a must-see.
Where can I watch A Mary Berry Christmas?
In this one-hour BBC One Christmas special, Mary, who served as judge on the BBC'sGreat British Bake Off between 2010 and 2016 before the series switched to Channel 4, will inspire even the most reluctant Christmas cooks to get in the kitchen and serve up a seasonal feast. You can watch A Mary Berry Christmas on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, December 17 and then on BBC iPlayer.
When it comes to being the hostess with the mostest, Mary Berry, with her platinum white hair and twinkly blue eyes, certainly looks like a fitting Mother Christmas. But the proof is in the pudding, and we think this programme will give the other festive TV chefs a run for their money (move over Jamie and Nigella).
Why Mary Berry loves Christmas
It’s not just about the food. In A Mary Berry Christmas, the veteran cook explores all of the traditions that make the celebration so special. Each family will have their own special ways of doing things, but Mary also looks at the customs enjoyed by the whole country - like trips to see the magnificent Christmas lights, family outings carol concerts and of course picking the Christmas tree.
What's on Mary Berry's Christmas menu?
Mary Berry’s nickname may well be Mary Queen of Cakes, but this grand doyenne of The Great Bake Off is not just offering sweet treats with her Christmas special recipes. She’s cooking up a storm with Pigs in Blankets Cassoulet and Roast King Mushrooms with Chestnut Stuffing. But don’t fret, there’s also plenty for those of us craving one of her signature desserts. How about a spectacular Cherry and Lemon Mille Feuille or a crowd-pleasing Pear and Ginger Steamed Pudding? Yes, we’re in!
Which celebrity guests will appear on A Mary Berry Christmas?
In her last show, gardener Alan Titchmarsh, chef Jamie Oliver, and Match Of The Day presenter Gabby Logan joined the fun. This time round Gavin and Stacey star Alison Steadman appears. She has cooked with Mary before, an experience she found slightly intimidating. ‘It was exciting, but I was very nervous,’ she said of her appearance in 2016. ‘Just making a cup of tea in a strange kitchen feels like a challenge, so my heart was racing.’ Now Alison is an old hand, hopefully she’ll be calmer. English former Commonwealth sprinter, Olympian and star of Gladiators, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey also appears, and broadcaster and presenter Zoe Ball pulls on her Christmas jumper to assist too. Mary says: 'I’ve had so much fun this year cooking with old and new friends for my series and this Christmas special is the icing on the cake. To have Alison, Harry and Zoe join me to make a range of delicious recipes for all kinds of festive occasions is simply joyful.'
Where is Mary Berry spending Christmas?
Mary has four-bedroom home in Henley-Upon-Thames, where she lives with her husband Paul Hunnings where she moved in 2019, after downsizing her six-bedroom house in the Buckinghamshire village of Penn. Mary has also spoken previously about going to her daughter Annabel’s for Christmas day, along with her grandchildren Louis, 20, Hobie, 17 and Atalanta, 15. ‘I cooked the turkey at home,’ Mary explained. ‘It takes an hour to drive there so I cooked the turkey to absolute perfection and it did its resting in the boot of my car. I covered it with foil, a towel and a few anoraks. The gravy was in a thermos.’ Mary also has grandchildren twins Gracie and Abby, aged 22, from her son Thomas. Mary also had another son, who sadly died at the age of 19 in a car crash.
What is the secret to Mary Berry's popularity?
Many women in TV have spoken out about ageism, however Mary Berry remains top of her game at 90. What are the ingredients that makes Mary so irresistible to her fans, old and new? ‘Mary Berry continues to wow us with her fail-safe recipes and as always she has neat solutions for a range of Christmas occasions peppered throughout the episode,’ says BBC One Commissioning Editor, Ceri Aston. ‘Coupled with her guests, A Mary Berry Christmas is a must-see special Christmas treat.’ We couldn’t agree more.
A Mary Berry Christmas on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, December 17 and on BBC iPlayer.
Lucy Hunter is a senior content creator across different titles, such as Bella, Take a Break, and of course, yours.co.uk. After three decades in journalism, she’s covered just about everything – from travel and true-life stories to health and emotional wellbeing – and still loves uncovering the human angle in every subject.