At 91 years old, Dame Mary Berry stood at the podium at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday, accepting the highest honor – the BAFTA Fellowship – with tears in her eyes. As one of the UK’s most beloved TV icons, she took the moment to pay a heartfelt tribute to her late son, William, who tragically died in a car accident at just 19 years old.
During her emotional speech, Dame Mary reflected on her career that has spanned over six decades, acknowledging the people who supported her, including her devoted husband, Paul, and her children, Annabel and Thomas. But it was her tribute to William that brought the crowd to tears. “William is in heaven but I thank him,” she said, expressing the deep sorrow and love that continues to resonate through her words.
Dame Mary shared her memories of how she went from a teacher to a TV sensation, attributing her success to The Great British Bake Off, which dramatically changed her life. She thanked her family for their constant support, especially Paul, 94, who was watching from home. The TV star also reflected on how she wished her parents could have been there to witness the honor: “You just wish your parents were still alive and you can call them up and say, ‘Guess what, Mum.’” 
While accepting the BAFTA Fellowship, Dame Mary couldn’t help but recall the tragic loss of her son William, who died in 1989 while visiting home from university. She spoke candidly about the grief that came with his death, sharing how the incident unfolded. Despite the heartbreak, she focused on the silver lining of her daughter Annabel’s survival, who was also in the car at the time of the accident.
As Dame Mary was honored for her outstanding career, which included winning a Best Judge award for Bake Off, she described the BAFTA as “the most amazing award” she had ever received. The award marks a milestone in her illustrious career, celebrating her legacy in British television.
Elsewhere, the night was full of surprises, with Owen Cooper making history as the youngest Best Supporting Actor winner at the BAFTA Awards, and Christine Tremarco taking home the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role in Adolescence.
The evening also saw Adolescence, the hard-hitting drama about a British teen caught up in the manosphere, take home multiple awards, cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.
As Dame Mary continues to inspire with her grace and resilience, her tribute to William serves as a powerful reminder of the personal sacrifices behind her professional success.
Source: Daily Mail
