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Dame Mary Berry is proving food is the way to the nation’s heart – topping the Christmas cookbook chart with her 82nd title.
The former Bake Off judge’s Simple Comforts has raced to No1 as lockdown fever fuels a huge demand for home-cooking skills.
Almost a third of the £20million annual cookbook sales come in the run-up to Christmas – but this year interest has soared with eating out options firmly off the table.
Half a billion more meals were made at home during the first lockdown than in the same period last year, says analyst Kantar.
And Mary, 85, has not only outsold Jamie Oliver – last year’s bestseller – and his 7 Ways cookbook, she has also made mincemeat of Nigella Lawson’s newest title Cook, Eat, Repeat, which is No11 in the list compiled by Tesco.
The chain’s book buyer Beth Farrar said: “What an incredible year Mary’s had, after receiving her damehood.