Mary Berry to receive special honour at the BAFTA Television Awards 2026 - as she reveals her proudest TV moment
The cookery star said the accolade was a "huge honour".
Mary Berry is set to receive the BAFTA Fellowship for her exceptional contribution to television.
The 91-year-old, who is a broadcasting phenomenon with a career spanning six decades, said it is "the icing on the cake" to learn she is to be honoured with the accolade.
Dame Mary will be presented with the Fellowship - which is "in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television" - during the BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises ceremony in May.
She said in a statement: "I couldn’t believe it was true, what a huge honour to be presented with the BAFTA Fellowship."
She continued: "For over 50 years, I have enjoyed every moment of teaching my passion on television and I thank all the generous professionals along the way who have given me guidance and support - and I am still learning. This amazing BAFTA Fellowship is the icing on cake!"
The much-loved broadcaster and chef first appeared on television in the 1970s and has appeared on screen regularly ever since. She is best known for her role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, and has also hosted several self-titled shows for the BBC.
BAFTA said: "Mary’s role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off was nothing short of transformative. By shifting the genre towards a format rooted in warmth and encouragement, she inspired a national resurgence in home baking and established a new paradigm for competitive programming, one that champions craft and joy."
The star said her proudest moment on TV so far was filming with the Prince and Princess of Wales for her Christmas special, A Berry Royal Christmas, in 2019.
"They put their whole heart into making roulades and achieved great things, with a lot of laughter," she said.
BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip said: "Dame Mary Berry is a singular talent whose warmth, craft and generosity have helped shape the very best of British television."
She continued: "Mary Berry for more than 60 years has informed, inspired and entertained audiences, setting a new benchmark for factual entertainment, proving that expertise and empathy can draw huge audiences in primetime.
"The BAFTA Fellowship is our highest honour, and we’re proud to celebrate Mary’s extraordinary legacy at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards."
The BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises ceremony will take place on Sunday 10 May at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by Greg Davies and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Previous recipients of the honour include Dame Joanna Lumley, Kirsty Wark and Sir David Attenborough, who will soon be celebrating his 100th birthday.
The BAFTA TV Awards will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 10 May 2026.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
