Mary Berry

Thank goodness for the demise of the dinner party - the scourge of the eighties. We only invite friends for lunch or barbecues now and they're very informal affairs.

Does anybody still have dinner parties any more? On the rare occasions that we have people round it's just a case of put the food on the table and everyone help themselves.
I have made two batches of the scones she made in the Tea Party programme and they were very yummy! Crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

Didn't we used to have Delia? Isn't she just as good as Mary Berry? personally I don't like her way, it's too gushing. Like a few on GN I'd rather watch James Martin anyday! or Nigella.

I think it's great to see (and let's be frank here - I think she's 79 this month) an old woman being given so much TV time and showing she's still up and running and has the gift of long experience to offer.

More and more middle-aged woman have been given opportunities, which is great, but this is pushing the boundaries even further.

More power to her hand whisk I say!

We had Mary Berry come to talk at a WI event last year. She was funny, relaxed and was happy to chat to us individually. As they say 'there was no side to her' a thoroughly nice lady.

I thought Mary Berry is a bit stuck in her ways!! James Martin, on the other hand

Soutra loved your piece and so amusing!- and I do agree. I do admire Mary Berry but her cooking in the new programme is so passe - supposed to be an accent (acute) over the e!! The content doesn't excite me. Apart from this she is a lovely lady and is a star in The Great British Bake -off.

Raymond Blanc - ooh I go all weak at the knees and he can cook! X

I love Michel Roux Jnr, his twinkly eyes just make me all soppy.

It was Keith Floyd, NanKate, My food hero.

I read today that Michel Roux Jr is leaving the BBC as they cannot come to an agreement regarding his commercial enterprises. I wonder what ITV will have lined up for him?

I agree shysal, those Hairy Bikers make me heave. Rings, bracelets and long hair. Yuk!

What you say KatyK is so true. TV planners seem to have no imagination - they hit on one winning formula and then do it to death - Masterchef and the other cookery programmes,Antiques Road Show, Great British Bake Off,Great British Sewing Bee, Great British wWatching Paint Dry etc followed by the endless Celebrity/Sports Relief/Chidren in Need variations and then those lookalike home makeover programmes and futile "competitions" where people have to complete the Taj Mahal in 3 days with 2 volunteer helpers.

I used to like watching the chap ( can't remember his name) who got slowly sozzled whilst cooking the recipes. He's my kind of cook - hic !

I completely agree with you shysal not forgetting those beards too.

Mary Berry mentioned 'Home and Freezer Digest' - I realky loved that magazine and I still use some recipes from it!

I am going to say this and then run for cover! I know that the Hairy Bikers have a huge following but their appearance revolts me, especially the greasy long hair dangling over the food. I imagine them tinkering with the motor bikes, then baking with unwashed hands.

I don't think Marguerite Patten wore nail varnish though I wouldn't put it past Fanny Craddock! I was dreaming last night about kneading bread (Why, Dr Freud?) and I was not wearing nail varnish!

I'm now trying to remember if Marguerite Patten ever wore nail polish? Or Fanny Craddock? Didn't Jennifer of the 2 Fat Ladies wear lots of gold rings too? I'm pretty sure it was her I used to wonder if she might lose a diamond in her pastry one day.

Sometimes the TV people go a bit over the top once they latch on to someone's popularity, they saturate us with them. James Martin now has 3 or 4 shows a week on BBC I think. I can't bring myself to complain though, I think he is gorgeous.

sorry, made me heave......

I once watched The Two Fat Ladies and it made me have, they were making something awful like game pie, and the one with he long red nails was digging into a bowl of minced meat to mix in spices or something, then making pastry, I had visions of all that raw meat under her nails........

As to Mary Berry, taking a risk here, but are we seeing too much of her? Yes she is a good baker, but only watched about 10 minutes of last night, bit of a seventies dinner party. Liked her on Great British Bake Off though

That's them! I used to find them quite entertaining - apart from the nails.

Jennifer Patterson and Clarissa Dickson-something... Yes, I remember the red nails! One of them has died, but Clarissa is still around, I think.

henetha - to he honest sometimes her hands put me off watching her - when I read that she had had polio, I watched her with kinder thoughts too! There was another cook who used to have long, bright red nails which I thought was a bit 'off'. One of those Two Fat Ladies, Jennifer something.

Thanks KatyK. I didn't know that. I shall watch her hands with kinder thoughts now.... but I agree about the nails, Lona.