National treasure Dame Mary Berry is set to bring her unique brand of culinary magic to television screens this December, marking a milestone year with a special Christmas programme for BBC One.
A Star-Studded Kitchen
For A Mary Berry Christmas, the beloved cookery expert, who turned 90 this year, will be joined by a trio of famous faces. Gavin and Stacey star Alison Steadman, Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball, and Gladiators favourite Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will all step into Mary's kitchen to learn her festive secrets.
Mary expressed her delight at the line-up, telling the Mirror, "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." She added that having the group join her to create a range of delicious recipes for various festive occasions was "simply joyful."
Old Friends and New Challenges
The special reunites Mary with Alison Steadman, whom she first worked with during the Great Sport Relief Bake Off in 2016. The actress, now 79, has previously admitted to being an anxious cook, recalling that even making a cup of tea in a strange kitchen felt like a challenge. Despite her nerves, she fondly described Mary as being "lovely and kind, even when criticising."
Mary also shares a long-standing professional relationship with Zoe Ball, having been a frequent guest on her former Radio 2 Breakfast show to promote new books and series. The dynamic will be flipped for this special, with Mary taking the lead to help Zoe master the Christmas cooking.
The newest face in Mary's kitchen is former Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, best known as Nitro from the rebooted Gladiators and a recent contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. He will be swapping his pugil stick for a wooden spoon as he receives top tips from the doyenne of dining.
Festive Treats and Traditions
The programme will see Mary and her guests explore the cherished traditions that make Christmas special, from family rituals to national pastimes like viewing Christmas lights, attending carol concerts, and picking the perfect tree.
At the heart of it all, of course, is the food. Viewers will be treated to a masterclass in creating some of Mary's spectacular festive dishes, including:
- Pigs in blankets cassoulet
- Roast king mushrooms with chestnut stuffing
- Cherry and lemon mille feuille
- A grand finale of pear and ginger steamed pudding
Executive producers Kelly Sparks and Karen Ross commented, "It wouldn’t be Christmas without our Dame Mary Berry and her sparkling recipes. What a joy it’s been to film her celebrating the nation’s favourite festive traditions with some of our favourite stars."
BBC commissioning editor Ceri Aston assured viewers that Mary would impress with her fail-safe recipes, offering neat solutions for a range of Christmas occasions throughout the episode.
A Mary Berry Christmas airs on 17 December at 9pm on BBC1.
