Mary Berry had viewers in stitches as she quipped that it was “a long time since I’ve had a man on his knees” during her latest cooking show.
The former Great British Bake Off judge is back with BBC programme Classic Mary Berry, which sees her serving up an array of delicious, comforting dishes.
The 82-year-old made a string of saucy comments as she cooked with Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt, telling him she liked “a little bit of sauce” on her meatballs and joked when he bent over to stoke a fire: “It’s a long time since I’ve had a man on his knees in front of me.”
Tickled fans accused Berry of “flirting outrageously” with the 39-year-old cook, and suggested she was the new Nigella Lawson.
One said on Twitter: “Oh mezza bezza!!! Lol, it’s been a long time since I had a man on his knees in front of me. Mary’s flirting has gone off the Richter scale.”
One surprised viewer posted: “It’s been a long time since I had a man on his knees in front of me….” Mary Berry you did not just say that……!”
“Mary’s shameless flirting with the handsome Swedish chef in this has made my evening,” said another.
“She is such a flirt! Go Mary! Wonderful,” said another fan.
Others suggested Berry had taken a leaf out of fellow cook Lawson’s book.
“Oooooh errrrr is #MaryBerry turning into #NigellaLawson the Innuendo’s are coming in thick and fast!! My glasses have steamed up,” said one fan, while another joked: “Move over Nigella!”
Viewers were also shocked – but impressed – when Berry confessed to taking a shortcut and using shop bought puff pastry for her wild mushroom galette, declaring that life was too short to make her own.
“Reasons to love Mary Berry: “Life is too short to make your own puff pastry.” #preach.” one person posted on Twitter.
Another said: “Is this really Mary Berry or an imposter?! She’s right though.”
Classic Mary Berry continues on Monday at 8.30pm on BBC One.