Dame Mary Berry Honoured With BAFTA Fellowship

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK”, Dame Mary Berry has been awarded the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, the Academy’s highest honour, celebrating her remarkable six-decade career inspiring millions through her warmth, expertise, and passion for home cooking.

Dame Mary Berry, the renowned British television cook, author, and former Great British Bake Off judge, has received the BAFTA Fellowship — the highest honour from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts — for her outstanding contribution to television. The 91-year-old was recognised at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises, held on Sunday 10 May at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank Centre.

On the red carpet, Berry expressed delight at the award, noting that she typically associated such honours with actors and directors rather than cooks. She described the Fellowship as a wonderful surprise and the pinnacle of a long career spent doing what she loves.

The ceremony was hosted by Greg Davies and broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer. Berry was able to reunite with former Bake Off presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins during the event.

A Career Spanning Six Decades

Born Mary Rosa Alleyne Berry on 24 March 1935 in Bath, Somerset, she trained at Bath College of Domestic Science and later at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her early professional roles included demonstrating ovens for the Bath Electricity Board and working as a recipe tester.

Berry published her first cookbook in 1970 and has gone on to write more than 75 books, many of which have become bestsellers. Her practical, home-cooking style and clear instructions have made her a trusted name in British kitchens for generations.

She began appearing on television in the 1970s and has since presented numerous successful series, including Mary Berry Cooks, Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites, Mary Berry Everyday, Classic Mary Berry, Mary Berry’s Quick Cooking, and Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts, along with various Christmas specials.

Berry gained widespread popularity as a judge on The Great British Bake Off from 2010 to 2016, where her encouraging and supportive manner helped make baking more accessible and enjoyable for viewers of all ages. She later judged Britain’s Best Home Cook and has taken part in several documentaries and royal collaborations.

In 2020 she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to broadcasting, the culinary arts, and charity. She had previously received a CBE in 2012.

Lasting Legacy

BAFTA praised Berry as a singular talent whose warmth, expertise, and generosity have shaped British television, inspiring and entertaining audiences for more than six decades while setting a high standard for factual entertainment.

Her approach has always emphasised taking opportunities, thorough preparation, kindness, and honesty. Even at 91, she remains enthusiastic about new projects and grateful for the continued support of the BBC.

The BAFTA Fellowship places her alongside esteemed figures such as Sir David Attenborough and Dame Judi Dench. The recognition celebrates not only her culinary knowledge but also her passion, empathy, and ability to bring families together through cooking.

Dame Mary Berry’s BAFTA honour serves as a fitting tribute to an extraordinary career that has left a lasting mark on British television and home cooking.

Find more from Mary Berry now:

Website: https://www.maryberry.co.uk

Books on Apple: https://apple.co/4dB7fdK

Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nvPujp