My Life on a Plate

Mary Berry journeys back to her childhood haunts in Bath and reveals that she was an outdoorsy child and naughty at school! Together with chef/presenter Brian Turner, they visit key locations that resonate with Mary, prompting heart-warming memories of a happy childhood. Brian is inspired to cook 2 dishes – one full of nostalgia to remind Mary of her Mum’s home baking; the other is a tribute to Mary, drawing on different aspects of her younger years, that puts her life on a plate.

TV & movie star Nigel Havers travels back to Suffolk to reminisce about a colourful childhood – regaling TV chef Brian Turner with stories of betting at Newmarket races aged 5, and setting fire to a listed building in his parents’ garden, amongst other capers. But there are poignant memories too, of being sent off to boarding school at 6, and regular canings. Brian finds plenty to inspire him to cook two dishes to reflect Nigel’s life – nostalgic comfort food just like his mother’s, and a tribute dish with ingredients that touch on different elements of his fascinating childhood.

Against an evocative backdrop of the London skyline, veteran broadcaster and entertainer Nicholas Parsons delves deep into the memory banks of his long life. Stories of school, studying engineering, and finally breaking through into acting emerge, among more poignant memories of the blitz which he could see going on from the relative safety of Hampstead Heath. TV chef Brian Turner works his magic in an outdoor kitchen, creating nostalgic dishes designed to transport Nicholas back to his mother’s cooking, and reflect the kind of food he likes now.

Diane Louise Jordan takes a sometimes emotional trip back to her childhood, which was spent mostly in the 1960s new town of Hatfield, north of London. She remembers vividly a new sense of security which permeated her early years in a new home and school. Diane’s fascinating food memories, combining her mother’s Caribbean cooking and traditional British school lunches give chef Brian Turner a broad palette on which to draw for the nostalgic dishes he cooks in tribute to Diane.

Veteran disc jockey Tony Blackburn takes chef Brian Turner right back to where his story began in Poole, Dorset. They visit the home his father designed, the beach where he used to sell ice cream in the school holidays, and Bournemouth Pavilion where he learnt the ropes as a performer and entertainer. Brian cooks a nostalgic dessert to remind Tony of his Mum’s cooking, and creates a culinary tribute, which puts Tony’s life on a plate.

Johnny Ball revisits childhood haunts in Bristol with chef Brian Turner. Apart from his hunger for maths challenges in the classroom, he remembers the impact of ration book Britain on the supply of sweets at his local corner shop! But there are fond memories too of the resourcefulness of his parents to give their son a healthy start in life, despite the odds. Brian is inspired by Johnny’s love of wartime delicacies like offal to cook one of his nostalgic dishes. For his tribute to Johnny, Brian combines the ingredients suggested in heart-warming stories of a life well lived.