Dame Mary Berry 'honoured' by Bafta recognition

Dame Mary Berry said she was "immensely honoured" to be receiving the Bafta fellowship at the annual television awards.

The TV cook and former Great British Bake Off judge, who was born in Bath, Somerset, will receive the academy's highest honour for her exceptional contribution to television.

Speaking to Bafta red carpet host Roman Kemp as she arrived at the ceremony, she said of the fellowship: "I always think about directors and actors and actresses getting it, so as a cook, I feel very honoured.

"I'm immensely honoured to join those wonderful people who already won it, it's amazing."

Reflecting on her career in television, the 91-year-old said: "I started off on Collector's World, in Bristol. I had to make cow's udder pie and all sorts of Victorian dishes and I didn't really enjoy that and I moved on to other things.

"In Bake Off I wanted to get everyone baking and cooking and I think I was quite kind."

Dame Mary will reunite with former Bake Off presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins at the event and said: "I'm so excited. It makes me drop my shoulders and enjoy it, because we've done so much together and it's always fun."

Asked if she would be out late with them at the after party, Dame Mary said: "Maybe. We will see."

Bafta chief executive Jane Millichip said it had been a "particularly strong year" for television.

Speaking to the Press Association before the event at the Royal Festival Hall in London, she said: "This is the last awards of the season for Bafta, and it pretty much closes the awards season itself, so it always feels really celebratory."

Millichip praised the past year of TV as having "really stand-out water cooler moments", adding: "Whether it's comedy, entertainment or drama: Adolescence, Celebrity Traitors, Amandaland, Last One Laughing.

"They are all really powerful shows in their own right, and I think it's an amazing platform for British talent."

The ceremony will be hosted by Taskmaster star Greg Davies and will air on BBC One at 7pm.

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