The Queen of the kitchen has worked her way into the nations hearts since the early 70s when she first appeared on our TV sets, sharing secrets to the perfect Victoria sponge and other family favourites. In 2010 she joined Paul Hollywood to host The Great British Bake Off, which moved to BBC One last year after the series four final became the most-watched show on BBC 2, beating the previous record set by Top Gear (ha!).
Mary Berry Cooks is a collection of over 100 recipes, old and new. She will be signing copies from 12.30pm, 2 April.
10 things you didn’t know about Mary Berry…
Bez celebrated her 80th birthday in March by tucking into an eight-tier cake, presented to her by former GBBO contestant Ruth Clemens.
As a child, she contracted Polio and spent three months in hospital.
Though not academically good at school, she was encouraged by her cookery teacher, Miss Date.
At 22 Berry studied at the French Le Cordon Bleu school, but didn’t always enjoy the local cuisine. On being served horse meat she burst into tears, thinking of the beloved pony she had left behind.
No-one rocks a floral blazer quite like Berry, who was named one of the 50 best-dressed over 50s by The Guardian.
On an episode of Who Do You Think You Are, she discovered that her great-great-grandfather was a baker in Norwich.
Though they normally agree, Paul and Mary had a five-hour debate about who should go through to 2014’s semi final.
Berry has her own range of salad dressings, which she created with her daughter.
She lost her eldest son, William, in 1989 after he was involved in a car accident aged 19.
Berry has written an impressive 70 cookery books.
