Every week on The Great British Baking Show (known in the U.K. as The Great British Bake Off), fans watch as judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood dole out tough technical challenges and critique the work of standout amateur bakers. But before Prue came along, Paul had judged the competition alongside British food writer and chef Mary Berry.
As longtime viewers of the program already know, Mary and Paul were the original judges when the show first launched on the British network BBC Two back in 2010. Mary, who became iconic for her hatred of baked goods with "soggy bottoms," was front and center on Bake Off until 2016 — it was then that the show announced it would be moving to Channel 4. Much to everyone's surprise, Mary decided to walk away from her gig, along with then-presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
Why did Mary Berry leave The Great British Baking Show?
Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry.
According to Mary herself, she walked away from the tent of bakers out of "loyalty" to the BBC. "It was the BBC’s program, it grew there," she told RadioTimes.com. "So I decided to stay with the BBC, with Mel and Sue."
What's more, it sounds like Mary wasn't formally asked to continue on Bake Off when the series moved from BBC to Channel 4.
"Well, I avoided being asked. It was suggested what would happen if I did go to Channel 4; what I would get, the advantages. But I didn’t ever have a meeting with them," she revealed. "I’d made up my mind. To me it’s an honor to be on the BBC. I was brought up on it."
Of course, Mary had no problem finding other ways to keep busy after departing The Great British Baking Show. She went on to appear in several British TV shows, including Loose Women, Strictly Come Dancing, and This Morning. She also got to host her very own mini-series, Classic Mary Berry, and the TV series Mary Berry's Quick Cooking. What's even cooler, she's becoming a dame in Britain after appearing on the Queen's birthday honors list.
In short, Mary is still thriving even after saying goodbye to all those soggy bottoms four years ago.
FAQs
Mary left GBBO because the U.K. series switched networks. The show, which originally aired on BBC, decided to move to Channel 4 instead of sticking with BBC. Unhappy with the decision, Mary left the cast to show her loyalty to BBC.
What is the most controversial Great British Bake Off? ›
Custardgate. Deborah Manger was a dentist-turned-baker-turned-accidental-thief when she unwittingly took poor Howard Middleton's custard in series four.
What disability does Mary Berry have? ›
Her mother died in 2011, aged 105. At the age of 13, Berry contracted polio and had to spend three months in the Claverton Down Isolation Hospital. Her illness resulted in her having a twisted spine, a weaker left hand and thinner left arm.
Why did Prue leave The Great British Baking Show? ›
Channel 4 confirmed that Prue would be stepping back from Celebrity Bake Off in a statement provided to The Independent which read: “Prue will be joining Paul as usual to judge The Great British Bake Off but will be stepping back from The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.” Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson ...
Why is Mary no longer on the British baking show? ›
Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry. According to Mary herself, she walked away from the tent of bakers out of "loyalty" to the BBC. "It was the BBC's program, it grew there," she told RadioTimes.com.
Why did the woman leave the British baking show? ›
At the time, Toksvig said she was leaving “to spend more time with my other work”. As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show,” she said in her statement. “Spending time with Prue [Leith], Paul [Hollywood] and Noel has been one of the great pleasures of my life.
Who sabotaged on The Great British Baking Show? ›
Number of times named Star Baker
She met her husband Malcolm when she was 16 and they are still happily married. Diana found herself at the center of the "Bingate" controversy, where she was accused of sabotage after removing her fellow contestant Iain Watters' dessert from the freezer to make space for her own.
Why was Noel missing from The Great British Baking Show? ›
As the three finalists made their way into the tent, they were greeted by judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, as well as Matt Lucas, who was presenting on his own. Matt immediately addressed why Noel wasn't there, explaining that The Mighty Boosh star was feeling under the weather.
Has anyone ever been disqualified from The Great British Baking Show? ›
#Bingate scandal
Iain Watters got booted off the show in 2014 after throwing his botched Baked Alaska into the bin in a fit of rage. The construction engineer refused to present his creation to the judges after the ice cream melted and it collapsed into a sloppy mess.
What was the tragedy of Mary Berry? ›
Her Teen Son Died In A Car Accident
Of all the tragic things that have happened in Mary Berry's life, the one that has affected her most, is the death of her teen son, William, in January 1989. William, was home for a weekend visit from his university studies when it happened.
1) At the age of 13 Mary contracted polio and spent three months in hospital. When she finally came out of isolation her father walked her horse three miles to visit her. The condition left Mary's left arm and hand weak which often gets mistaken for arthritis by television viewers.
How did Mary Berry lose her son? ›
William Hunning, Mary's son with husband Paul, died in a car crash in 1989 at the age of 19. His sister, Annabel, was also in the accident, but survived. The Great British Bake Off judge opened up about what Easter meant to her as a child and how her family celebrates after William's death.
Why is Prue in a wheelchair? ›
I have snapped my Achilles tendon. Moments later, the show's medic came to Prue's aid and got “to use his ambulance, wheelchair, and considerable skills.” After doctors diagnosed Prue's injury, they gave her a boot to wear until it healed up and told her to use either a wheelchair or crutches when moving around.
Why was Prue replaced with Paige? ›
Producers then decided to kill off Prue and replace her with a long-lost younger half-sister named Paige Matthews (played by Rose McGowan), in favor of having "a fresh face" join the series. The producers had to re-cut the season three cliffhanger to explain Prue's sudden disappearance.
Did Prue Leith have a Michelin star? ›
Even so, Leith's career is impressive and filled with accomplishments, perhaps most notably earning a Michelin Star. Leith received her formal training from London's renowned Cordon Bleu Cookery School starting in 1960.
Why did Noel leave Bake Off? ›
He explained that it had become too much of a struggle juggling his various TV commitments. “Farewell Bake Off!” he wrote in a statement. “It's been a delicious experience and I can't imagine a more fun way of spending my summers.
Why did the hosts of the Great British Baking Show change? ›
Lucas said that, after a time, he felt that he wanted to focus more on Fantasy Football League, writing a book and musical, and working on a new TV series with his former Little Britain co-star David Walliams. “It probably utilises what I have better than Bake Off,” he said of Fantasy Football League.
Is Prue Leith leaving Bake Off? ›
In a comment made to The Independent on Thursday (14 March), Leith said: “I absolutely love working on Bake Off and am looking forward to filming the next series and meeting our new bakers, I am only stepping back from the Celebrity series, which is just a question of the filming commitment involved as we make these ...
Why did Mel and Sue leave Bake Off Reddit? ›
Mel and Sue didn't like the direction the new producers wanted to take it, and that's why they left, too. I enjoy the show, and I learn, but some of the week themes seem to be to cross-promote Paul's other projects ( Mexican week, Japanese week).
