Dame Mary Berry, 91, shares new career move Gen Z will approve of

Dame Mary Berry has surprised fans by announcing a career move.

The former Great British Bake Off judge, 91, revealed the bold change during her speech to accept the BAFTA Fellowship prize at the 2026 BAFTA awards.

She used the moment to praise the BBC and thanked her 'dear friends' Mel and Sue for 'leading her astray from day one'.

"I’m really bowled over by this accolade. I'm a cook, I'm a teacher, so I feel very honoured to be given BAFTA's highest award, joining such distinguished company," she enthused.

Berry added: "Television wasn’t part of my childhood. We had our first black-and-white TV when I was 10. One channel: the BBC of course, and it’s been my home for so many of my TV adventures over the years."

She reflected on her incredible career so far, before announcing her next steps.

“It seems no time ago when I left Bath High School with two O-levels in needlework and cookery."

“My first programme was on Collector’s World, filmed in Bristol at the Georgia House in 1971.”

“I cooked a cow’s udder pie, and you don’t forget that one,” to laughter.

"So what's next for me at the age of 91? I have just started my own YouTube channel!" she proudly shared.

One fan praised: "Never too old to start something new.... I think it is great that she does a Youtube! "Behave your age" is something nobody should do - just have fun on every step of the way!"

"91 and starting her YouTube channel, Mary Berry at the BAFTA television awards is the sweetest thing," praised another.

"Did anyone else catch Mary Berry saying that, at the age of 91, she’s just started her YouTube channel? What an inspiration!" raved one viewer.

Mary Berry received the BAFTA Fellowship at the 2026 BAFTA awards

In her speech she praised the value of the BBC

Then adds, "So what's next for me at the age of 91? I have just started my own YouTube channel" pic.twitter.com/7cMwWkdCcK

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) May 10, 2026

One fan joked: "Get Dan and Phil on a official Mary Berry baking video," while another added "At 91, she looks incredible and has just launched her YouTube channel. A powerful reminder that purpose, growth, and reinvention do not have an expiry date."

Berry also looked back on how far she's come since the start: "Things have changed. When I started, it was just me, no home economist, no backup, and I loved every single moment and put my heart and soul into it. The BBC took me under their wing.

“Bake Off came along and my whole world changed. I knew my baking inside out but I had to start thinking of what I was going to wear. It was all about the jackets, mainly because I could tuck a hot water bottle underneath because the tent was so chilly in the morning, first thing."

“I see myself as a teacher and television is the best and the biggest classroom that there is. It’s a great place to share what I love best. I’ve had such fun.”

Fellow recipients of the fellowship include Kirsty Wark, Sir Billy Connolly, Dame Joanna Lumley and Sir David Attenborough, who celebrated his 100th birthday this week.