Dame Mary Berry expressed immense gratitude upon learning she will be honored with the prestigious Bafta Fellowship for her remarkable contribution to television. The 91-year-old culinary figure will receive the fellowship at the upcoming Bafta Television Awards ceremony. Overwhelmed by the news, she described it as an incredible honor for a cook to be recognized in this manner.

The Bafta Fellowship is considered the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual by Bafta, acknowledging outstanding contributions to film, games, or television. Recognized as one of the UK’s most beloved broadcasters, Dame Mary Berry has had a distinguished career spanning six decades since her television debut in the 1970s.

Her role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off was hailed as transformative by Bafta, as she steered the genre towards a more encouraging and warm format, sparking a nationwide resurgence in home baking and establishing a new standard for competitive programming that values craftsmanship and joy.

The Bafta Television Awards ceremony is set to take place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London on May 10, with live coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Dame Mary Berry expressed her disbelief and deep appreciation for receiving the Bafta Fellowship, considering it a significant achievement after over five decades of sharing her passion on television.

Reflecting on her illustrious career, Dame Mary recounted her proudest TV moment filming with the Prince and Princess of Wales for her Christmas special, A Berry Royal Christmas, in 2019. Bafta’s chief executive, Jane Millichip, praised Dame Mary Berry for her warmth, skill, and generosity, citing her influence in shaping British television’s finest moments.

The Bafta Fellowship has previously been awarded to esteemed personalities like Kirsty Wark, Sir Billy Connolly, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Sir David Attenborough, underscoring the exceptional company Dame Mary Berry now joins with this prestigious honor.