Mary Berry promotes her new cooking show as GBBO scores record ratings

Mary Berry promotes her new cooking show and details the daring challenges she faced while filming… as Great British Bake Off scores record ratings

Mary Berry appeared on Wednesday’s edition of This Morning, as it was revealed the Great British Bake Off’s opening episode of series 11 scored 7.9 million viewers.

The professional chef, 85, was on to discuss her new cooking book and show Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts in which she even took part in a rowing race.

Of the daring challenges she faced, Mary said: ‘I was terrified when I was standing there, drizzling slim boat comes up, I’m not a good swimmer, I thought i would topple over, the crew were wonderful and cheering

Greener pastures: On Wednesday's This Morning, Mary Berry, 85, promoted her new cooking show and detailed the daring challenges she faced, including a rowing race, while filming

Greener pastures: On Wednesday’s This Morning, Mary Berry, 85, promoted her new cooking show and detailed the daring challenges she faced, including a rowing race, while filming 

‘We had a race. You know me, I’m quite competitive and I was determined to win. I lost my voice then we went on down the Thames.’ 

She went on: ‘I am very lucky to have all these experiences I really enjoy them, great to have a go.

‘I went up to Yorkshire to Whitby I have never been in weather that was more torrential or had to cook in it, it was a great experience.’

Success: It was also revealed on Wednesday the Great British Bake Off's opening episode of series 11 scored 7.9 million viewers

Success: It was also revealed on Wednesday the Great British Bake Off’s opening episode of series 11 scored 7.9 million viewers

Going on to talk about her life during lockdown, she added: ‘I did quite a lot of cooking, in lockdown it was just my husband and myself and the garden.

‘I had a lot of phone conversations with friends I hadn’t spoken to in a long time, especially at my age i have a lot of widow friends who were stranded and alone so we had a lot of phone conversations.’

Earlier in the day, it was revealed a record number of viewers tuned in to see Matt Lucas’ first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges. 

Exciting: Detailing what she did while filming, Mary said 'We had a race. You know me, I'm quite competitive and I was determined to win. I lost my voice then we went on down the Thames'

Exciting: Detailing what she did while filming, Mary said ‘We had a race. You know me, I’m quite competitive and I was determined to win. I lost my voice then we went on down the Thames’

Catching up: Mary also spoke about how she spent lockdown, as she admitted the extended time at home gave her the chance to talk to friends she 'hadn't spoken to in a long time'

Catching up: Mary also spoke about how she spent lockdown, as she admitted the extended time at home gave her the chance to talk to friends she ‘hadn’t spoken to in a long time’

The show marked the biggest Great British Bake Off launch Channel 4 has seen since it started airing the show in 2017, following seven years at the BBC.

Tuesday night’s series premiere beat last year’s opening episode by a huge 1.3 million viewers, and surpassed the broadcaster’s first ever episode in 2017 by 500,000.

The peak of 7.9 million (average audience 6.9 million) marks Channel 4’s biggest broadcast of 2020 to date and the channel’s highest rating broadcast since the series nine final of Bake Off in 2018.

He's a hit! A record number of people tuned in to see Matt Lucas' first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges

He’s a hit! A record number of people tuned in to see Matt Lucas’ first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges

Ready, set, bake! Lockdown delayed the start of Great British Bake Off’s series 11 but it was worth the setbacks for Channel 4 as ratings show the series opener scored record ratings

The start of Tuesday night’s show was delayed by 15 minutes to make room for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address at 8pm, which three million people tuned in for on Channel 4. 

Bake Off played up to the schedule clash, opening the episode with new presenter Matt Lucas impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to ‘Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves.’

The series had already seen it’s start date pushed back by a month from its usual late August slot after filming was delayed by lockdown.

The production worked to ensure COVID-19 restrictions would not impact the close-knit nature of the show. 

Light-hearted relief: Bake Off opened with Matt impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves'

Light-hearted relief: Bake Off opened with Matt impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to ‘Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves’