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 seriesAfternoon 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.
Since the millennium 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 including The One Show, Graham Norton Show, BBC Breakfast, This Morning, Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Claudia Winkleman Radio 2 Show, Zoe Ball Breakfast Show and Woman's Hour. 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 and in 2021 Mary Berry Love to Cook. From 2018 Mary has been one of the judges on Best Home Cook, BBC1 competition cooking series. 2019 Mary presented a Christmas show – A Very Royal Christmas a one hour BBC special with Duke and duch*ess of Cambridge.
Mary has written over 80 cookery books and continue to write each year to accompany her BBC television series. Mary wrote her Autobiography Recipe for Life in 2013.
2020 Guest Editor for Countryfile BBC1
2020 Mary received the honour of Damehood in the Queen's birthday honours
2012 Mary had the honour of receiving a CBE.
2019 Fortnum and Mason Personality of the Year Award
2018 Woman and Home Celebrity doing good award
2017 National Television Award for Best TV Judge
2017 TV Choice Outstanding Achievement Award
2015 Observer Monthly Lifetime Achievement Award
2014 Honoured as Freeman of the Worshipful company of Bakers of London
2013 Given Freedom of the City of Bath
2012 Honorary Degree Bath Spa University
2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from Guild of Food Writers
Mary continues to write books alongside Lucy Young, her assistant of over thirty years.
Mary's mission: To get everyone baking and cooking at home
Mary is a proud patron of Child Bereavement UK
Mary is an RHS ambassador
Mary is the National Garden Scheme President
All charities she is passionate to support.
