Dame Mary Berry reveals why she won’t be watching new series of ‘The Great British Bake Off’

20 March 2023

Dame Mary Berry won’t be watching the new series of ‘The Great British Bake Off’.

Dame Mary Berry won’t be watching the new series of ‘The Great British Bake Off’

The 87-year-old chef, who was a judge on the show alongside baker Paul Hollywood, 57, before she quit when it moved to Channel 4 in 2016, and even though she hopes its latest host Alison Hammond will do a good job she admitted she will not be tuning in to find out.

Mary, who has been married to Paul Hunnings since 1996, told the Daily Mirror at the Cheltenham Festival about how she does too much cooking at home to also watch it on TV: “I had seven wonderful years at Bake Off and it’s a wonderful format.

“It gets people and children cooking. I don’t actually watch it, because you can imagine, being married to me, there’s a lot of food about, so we don’t watch much cooking on telly.

“I hope that (Alison is) very good. They’ve had a good swap around since I left. “But they are all good, and they bring a different way of life to the ‘Bake Off’.

“I’m still doing my normal cooking shows, which I love.

“Cooking from scratch, all very easy, and encouraging people to do what I enjoy.

“I think people are at last shopping locally, and going to local markets, and going to pick-your-own, and making the most of the less expensive things.”

Alison, 48, is replacing Matt Lucas, 49, on ‘Bake Off’ after the comedian revealed in December he was stepping down from the presenting role as he could no longer commit to the programme’s schedule as well as his other projects.

The ‘This Morning’ host announced the news by posting a video on Instagram of a cake designed in the shape of the white ‘Bake Off; tent, which featured models of her with fellow host Noel Fielding, 49, and judges Paul and 83 year old Dame Prue Leith.

She said in a voiceover: “This is breaking news, Alison Hammond is joining the team of ‘The Great British Bake Off’.”

As animated microphones appeared on the screen, she asked her figure if she had any comment, to which she said: “Well do you know what? I’m just absolutely thrilled. I’m going to be meeting the bakers very soon. I’m joining ‘The Great British Bake Off’. I’m so very excited.”

She also wrote alongside the post: “It’s Official!! It’s happening The Great British Bake off! let’s have it – The cake that is so excited @BritishBakeOff @Channel4 @PrueLeith @PaulHollywood @noelfielding11 #GBBO.”