Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts series 1: release date of BBC cooking show, who are hosts, and what is it about?

The former Great British Bake Off host will be sharing her recipes with amateur cooks
Roman Kemp, Mary Berry, and Tom Read Wilson smiling in the kitchen (Credit: BBC/Rumpus Media)Roman Kemp, Mary Berry, and Tom Read Wilson smiling in the kitchen (Credit: BBC/Rumpus Media)
Roman Kemp, Mary Berry, and Tom Read Wilson smiling in the kitchen (Credit: BBC/Rumpus Media)

Baking icon and former Great British Bake Off host Mary Berry is returning to our screens to offer her advice to amateur cooks who want to make a very special meal for a loved one - but don’t know where to begin.

Fans of Berry have been waiting for BBC One show, Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts, to air for over a month as the original air date was delayed from March due to the channel’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.

But now, the wait is almost over.

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So, what can viewers expect from the show and when will it be on TV?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts about?

The show follows Mary Berry as she comes to the aid of hopeless novice cooks who want to surprise a loved one with a big meal.

Berry chooses the meals the three cooks will make, and gives them advice on how to create each dish.

Along the way, she has help from some famous faces who oversee what’s happening in the kitchen and prepare extras to accompany the main dishes being created.

What is the first episode of Mary’s Berry’s Fantastic Feasts about?

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During the first episode, Berry meets and helps fireman Mark, youth worker Callum and boxing instructor Thaer.

They all want to create a special afternoon tea to say thank you to Soraya, who runs a local youth charity, but they don’t know where to start.

Mark said: “I’ve never followed a recipe in my life. I can put some chips in the oven, but that’s about my limit, I’d say.”

Callum said: “I’m just rubbish at multitasking, and when there’s too many things going on my brain fries a little bit and things start to burn.”

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Berry decides that they will make red pepper, cheese and chive tartlets, mini scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream and a four-tier clementine cake.

What is the second episode of Mary’s Berry’s Fantastic Feasts about?

In the second episode, Berry helps Rima, her mother-in-law Diane and her best friend Noreen, who all want to make a surprise 30th birthday feast for Rima’s husband Mark.

The recipes Berry chooses for the birthday banquet are blinis, salmon en croute and a chocolate ganache cake.

Who else is hosting along with Mary Berry?

In episode one, Berry is joined in the kitchen by Capital One Breakfast host Roman Kemp and Celebs Go Dating’s Tom Read Wilson.

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Kemp tries his first ever cup of tea as he tries to find one worthy of the party, while Read Wilson visits the Women’s Institute to make the perfect jam for the scones.

In episode two, Berry’s celebrity kitchen helpers are Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara and presenter Scarlett Moffatt.

The pair hit the shops to pick up Mark’s favourite thing, cheese.

When is Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts on TV?

The first episode from the series will air on Wednesday 13 April at 8pm on BBC One.

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It will then be available to watch shortly after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

The second episode is expected to air on Monday 18 April at 8pm on BBC One, and will also be available a short while after on BBC iPlayer.

Each episode is an hour long.

Who is Mary Berry?

Dame Mary Berry, aged 87, is one of the best-known and respected cookery presenters and writers in the UK.

She trained at The Cordon Bleu in Paris and Bath School of Home Economics.

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Berry, who is often referred to as the Queen of cakes, has published more than 75 cookery books since 1970, including her best-selling Baking Bible in 2009.

She has hosted several television series, and one of her most famous roles was as a judge on BBC One show The Great British Bake Off from its launch in 2010 until 2016, when it relocated to Channel 4.

On 25 January 2017, Berry won the award for Best TV Judge at the National Television Awards for Great British Bake Off.

She was also appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting, the culinary arts and charity, and received the honour on 20 October 2021 at Windsor Castle.

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