Mary Berry left without BBC1 series for first time in decade after cookery series is axed
WHEN Channel 4 pinched the Great British Bake Off from the Beeb, judge Dame Mary Berry didn’t defect and landed herself another show - Britain’s Best Home Cook.
But now bosses have confirmed the contest hosted by Claudia Winkleman, has been axed after just four years.
That means the 87-year-old cookery queen no longer has any series on BBC1.
A TV insider said: “This will be a big disappointment to Mary as this was a primetime alternative to the Bake Off which saw her take another high profile role.
“But it’s fair to say it never gained the same audience in a market which is already saturated with cookery programmes.
“Dame Mary remains a much loved figure among the public and is well respected among bosses at the Beeb, but this didn’t turn out to be the right vehicle for her.”
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“But this didn’t turn out to be the right vehicle for her.”
It’s not all bad news for her though. She still has her current series, Cook & Share, on BBC Two.
I can also reveal that she has another one-off BBC1 special set to air this December called Christmas with Mary Berry and Friends.
It will be a “fool-proof guide to making Christmas dinner” with Mary adding: “I am going to bring together everything you need with tips to make it a festive day to remember.”
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Britain’s Best Home Cook first aired in 2018 with members of the public showing off their culinary skills in a similar set up to Bake Off.
But by series three in 2020 - the last time it aired - the competitors were all celebrities and the word “Britain” was dropped from the title.
Ed Balls won that show, which also featured judges Angela Hartnett and Chris Bavin.
Tom Read Wilson and Rachel Johnson finished in second and third place respectively.
A BBC spokeswoman: “Sometimes we have to make hard decisions in order to make way for new shows, so currently there are no plans to bring back Best Home Cook.
“We would like to thank Mary, Claudia, Angela and Chris for their wonderful contributions to previous series, and we look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
CORRIE JAMES BAILS OUT
CORONATION Street star Nathan Graham has quit the soap after three years.
The actor, who plays footballer James Bailey, joined the cast in 2019 as the youngest son of the show’s first ever black family.
Viewers have seen James suffer a heart attack during a football match, putting his career in jeopardy.
A source revealed: “His exit will see him leave Weatherfield for a new start.
“But his family are still on the cobbles and he will only be a train ride away so it may not be the last viewers have seen of him.”
Nathan’s exit will come as his on-screen sister arrives in the form of actress Channique Sterling-Brown as the much-mentioned but never seen Dee-Dee Bailey next week.
That's the spirit, Craig
GRUMPY judge Craig Revel-Horwood has revealed there’s someone else who likes him less than the dancers he berates on Strictly.
He revealed how he once asked a bride to move her wedding day back 24 hours so he could hold his 50th birthday at a venue in Sydney harbour.
His bash was bathed in sunshine - and the next day he watched as hers was lashed by a storm.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Unforgivable on Dave, Craig said: “Suddenly a huge dark cloud arrived and literally the thunderstorm that ensued was unbelievable - they closed the harbour bridge.
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“It absolutely p***ed down with rain for hours, for the whole afternoon. I felt so sorry for her. But you know what, at least my day wasn’t ruined.”
That’s the spirit, Craig.