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Baking royalty Dame Mary Berry visited Sussex to film her latest Christmas special. The TV chef was joined by Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, Amanda Holden, and DJ Nick Grimshaw to film the festive programme, Mary Makes Christmas. As part of the show, Dame Mary visited the RNLI boathouse in Rye to make ginger flapjacks with Nick Grimshaw for the volunteers, family, and friends at their annual RNLI Christmas carols celebration.
Dame Mary chats to RNLI volunteers (Image: RNLI) The visit was organised by KT Bruce, press officer at RNLI Rye Harbour. She said: "It all began with a phone call at the beginning of September, asking to use the boathouse for Mary Berry's Christmas special. "This was to be a Christmas party filmed in the boathouse in October, as Mary wanted to include the RNLI in her show.
" "I replied: 'I hope that I can help.'" Dame Mary hands out some of her freshly baked flapjacks (Image: RNLI) Ms Bruce then had the task of sourcing venues, accomodation and kitchens for the filming, as well as finding 70 volunteers to sing carols for the Christmas party - which she described as "such fun". She added: "The afternoon ended with the singing of Christmas songs and flapjacks for the children with Mary and Nick Grimshaw handing out the treats.
"Mary and Nick spent time talking to the volunteers at the station and their families. The carol singers sang beautifully and Father Christmas played the keyboard. "It was jolly cold but it did not rain and we did not have a shout, so all was good.
Everyone who took part loved it and the proof is in the (Christmas) pudding. "What a way to showcase the amazing work of our crew at RNLI Rye Harbour and the lovely town of Rye." Radio presenter Nick Grimshaw joined Dame Mary at RNLI Rye Harbour (Image: BBC) Mary Makes Christmas aired on December 18, and is available now on iPlayer.
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