Bake Off star Mary Berry tells crowd 'I'm deaf' as she shares touching plea

Wales Online

04-05-2025

Bake Off star Mary Berry tells crowd 'I'm deaf' as she shares touching plea
The well-known chef, Dame Mary Berry, best known for her role on The Great British Bake Off, issued the plea while accepting an award at the Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards
Dame Mary Berry reportedly had an issue with a crowd
(Image: BBC )
Dame Mary Berry has made a heartfelt appeal, revealing to an audience that she's "deaf" during an awards ceremony.
The incident took place at the recent Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards, where the former Bake Off star was honoured with a special award. However, she reportedly struggled with the noise from the "raucous" crowd.
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The beloved chef, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday and is currently working on a new BBC show, took to the stage at The Royal Exchange in London and asked the audience to lower their voices, emphasising the significance of the event.
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According to the Mail, Mary said: "Please do keep it very, very quiet. It's such an important occasion, and you must hear every single person that comes up here. I'm deaf and there are maybe one or two others that also find it difficult to hear everything."
The much-loved chef asked the crowd to keep the noise down
(Image: PA )
In previous discussions about her health, the TV icon described herself as "lucky" to have had a mild infection when she contracted polio at the age of 13, before a vaccine was developed.
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Despite this, Mary, whose condition mainly affected one side of her body, continues to experience damage in one hand, which people often mistake for arthritis.
She even spent three months behind a glass screen (separating the future chef from her parents) in a bid to prevent infection. Speaking to the Radio Times, she revealed how it impacted her work.
Mary, who also has a twisted spine, said: "Everybody thinks I've got arthritis. I look a bit funny when I'm rolling pastry, but I have no other difficulties whatsoever."
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In 2021, the esteemed food writer experienced a fall in her garden that resulted in a broken hip, but she bounced back with the help of surgery and credits playing croquet for aiding her joint recovery.
Mary, who recently turned 90, is currently working on a new show
(Image: Getty Images )
Despite these challenges, Mary shows no signs of slowing down. Her new show is eagerly anticipated to hit our screens later this year, promising to be a "tribute to the Mary's joy of cooking".
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The upcoming programme is expected to be produced by Sidney Street, the same company responsible for Foolproof Dinners, and will feature some of Mary's fondest memories and, naturally, her beloved recipes.
With a television career spanning five decades and over 12 million cookbooks sold, Mary Berry remains a fixture in British homes. Her latest six-part series, which will coincide with a cookbook release, is scheduled for broadcast this autumn.
A source shared their enthusiasm: "Mary is a national treasure so what better way to celebrate her than a new series. It'll be a tribute to the Mary's joy of cooking and sharing good food."
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Representatives for Dame Mary Berry have been approached for further comments.