Mary Berry makes Christmas special for awful cooks

Dame Mary Berry is set to make a festive special for useless cooks.

The 85-year-old chef will help wannabe cooks to save Christmas by teaching them how to prepare a feast for their family in her upcoming show ‘Mary Berry Saves Christmas’.

BBC bosses are looking for candidates who lack skills in the kitchen to take part in the festive treat, according to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column.

The show is set to rival ‘The Great British Bake Off’ - which saw Mary judge sweet treats before she left in 2016 - as the Channel 4 baking competition has already filmed their own Christmas special.

Producers were able to squeeze in filming whilst they recorded the latest series - which is currently airing - and will see judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood judge four previous contestants on their bakes.

Meanwhile, Mary was "absolutely overwhelmed" when she received a Damehood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year for her services for broadcasting.

But she had a bittersweet wish that her late parents and brother could have been alive to see her.

She said: "I am absolutely overwhelmed to receive this very great honour. For most of my life I have been lucky enough to follow my passion to teach cookery through books and the media. I just wish my parents and brothers were here to share my joy, as my only achievement at school was just one O-level in cookery of course!

"However, I am sure they are looking down and smiling. I will celebrate with my husband and family very soon."

The culinary queen previously opened up about her parents passing.

She said: "My mother died last year at 105. Dad died 20 years before that.

"My mum's secret of getting to that incredible age was simply being part of the community. She loved playing bridge. She loved her church. She was always entertaining, and if she came to us she'd say, 'I'll do the sprouts,' or, 'Can I lay the table?' She was always busy and active and wanting to take part."

© BANG Media International