Sharing is CARING!

DAME MARY BERRY on making the perfect dishes for a social gathering

- CAREN CLARK

MARY BERRY: COOK & SHARE

NEW - WEDNESDAY, 8 PM, BBC2 COOKERY

Nothing delights Dame Mary Berry more than meeting up with loved ones for a delicious meal. Now, in her new BBC2 series, Mary Berry: Cook & Share, the former Bake Off judge explores the pleasures of sharing food and the wonderful ways it brings people together.

In the six-parter, the inspirational cook travels around the UK from Dorset's Jurassic Coast to Bristol, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. In each location, many of which have been deeply significant in her life, Dame Mary chats to people as they prepare to cater for family parties, community gatherings, and even festivals.

Along the way, she demonstrates some of her favourite recipes for sharing, beginning in the opening episode with dishes for special occasions including an avocado, beetroot, and prawn stack, roasting tin spiced chicken, and chocolate shots!

Here, Dame Mary, 87, tells us why sharing is caring...

What was your thinking behind the new series?

I'm not very good at enjoying food on my own and I've always loved to share. I like the interaction after having cooked food. For someone to say they appreciate it, it adds to the conversation.

I think that's become the case more and more, because over the last few years, we've had more time at home. People have been experimenting and trying out new recipes because they've had time and also everybody was locked down, so you've got an appreciative audience to share the recipes with.

The opening episode sees you attend an Indian wedding. Was that a memorable experience?