As a successful Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, author and daughter of national treasure Dame Mary Berry, Belles Berry might appear to be in an enviable situation.
But in this exclusive interview with HELLO!, she reveals that she has had "the hardest year of my life" – and Mary has been at her side.
A year ago, Belles, 54, separated from her husband, Dan, of 24 years. This is the first time she has spoken publicly about the split.
"When you get married, you think [you’ll be] together forever," says Belles, who has three children with Dan: Louis, 21, Hobie, 18, and Atalanta, 15. "I really never thought this would happen. It’s heartbreaking. The grief can hit you like a tsunami, but I’ve learnt to ride the storm.
"There have been times when I’ve broken down, but I know I will come up again… it is just part of the grieving process. I’m getting stronger every day, ready to rebuild my life and learning to trust that the next chapter is going to be phenomenal."
Despite her challenging year, Belles is full of positivity when we meet, dressed in a handmade silk shirt, linen trousers from Me+Em and a vintage Gucci belt passed down by her famous mother.
Bond with mother Dame Mary
It is clear that Belles – whose full name is Annabel – and Mary, 91, share an unbreakable bond; they live just six miles apart in Oxfordshire and see each other regularly. Her mother has been a pillar of support, Belles says. "She just wants me and the children to be happy."
The family has been through hard times before. Belles, who is one of three siblings, lost her brother William in a car accident in 1989. "That was very traumatic. I was 17, he was 19," she says. "Time is the only healer."
© GettyHer mother's optimistic attitude has helped her from a young age. "Mum is incredibly positive," she says. "I hope I've instilled that in my children because I think that's the most important lesson – to turn things from a negative to a positive."
She admits that she became a homebody during the split. "I did shut myself off quite a lot; I didn't know how I'd feel the next day," she says. "Now I'm looking forward to seeing my friends; there are going to be a few big nights out."
As for dating, "the apps absolutely terrify me", she confesses. "I think I'll wait and see what comes to me."
A new start
Moving nearer to her parents, Mary and Paul Hunnings, is now on the cards, as Belles and Dan have put their country house, Blenheim Farm in Ewelme, on the market. Listed for almost £4 million, the property, which they built in 2020 and which is set in ten acres of land, was a passion project for the former couple.
© DUNCAN MACBRAYNE 2025"We poured our heart and soul into the property," she says. "It has everything we ever dreamed of – a fountain in the entrance hall, a games room, a tennis court and a beautiful wood for camping. There's also an orchard, a fruit garden and a delightful cottage for guests. The children had the happiest childhood here.
"It's time to let it go and pass it on. I would like to be near Mum and Dad in Henley-on-Thames."
Belles sees her parents a few times a week. "Mum often comes over for a Sunday roast and we go for a walk, picking flowers or mushrooms. We have a wonderful annual event where my parents take all the children and grandchildren on holiday. We love going to Crete."
She’s proud of her mother’s success, following Mary’s seven-year stint as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. "None of us saw that coming. That was the heyday of her television time, and Mel [Giedroyc] and Sue [Perkins, the show’s former presenters] became dear friends. Mum still loves what she's doing at 91 – she's writing another cookbook."
© DUNCAN MACBRAYNE 2025Belles' cooking career
Inspired by her mother to become a chef, Belles has co-written a Times bestselling cookbook called Menolicious: Eat Your Way to a Better Menopause, with her friend and HELLO! columnist Mariella Frostrup. The pair, who met at a Menopause Mandate event at the Houses of Parliament, were equally frustrated by a lack of recipe books for perimenopausal and menopausal women, so they created their own.
Belles' own symptoms – hot flushes, social anxiety and waking up at night – began three years ago. "I knew something was wrong when I didn’t want to go out, as I love a party. My GP was incredible; I went straight on HRT. It was a game-changer. If the balance isn't right, I go back to the GP.
"A lot of people can't take HRT or don't want to, so in the book, we explain how to get oestrogen into your body naturally through phytoestrogens, which are part of the Japanese diet… soy, tofu, edamame."
Mary is incredibly proud of her daughter's book, although Belles says: "She didn't really understand why I was writing for menopausal women – she's from a different generation and I totally respect that. It's not a taboo subject now."
Mother and daughter often cook together. "We were in the kitchen in Salcombe, Devon, last weekend," she says. "My brother Tom had caught some spider crabs and I found an octopus in my lobster pot, so Mum and I were the fishwives at the sink preparing them."
A third generation of the family has also taken to cooking. Belles' daughter Atalanta, who is at boarding school, is an "amazing baker" and "changes Granny's recipes, adds a few things". But Mary doesn't mind, Belles says.
Her sons are also adept in the kitchen; they have taken a cookery course and can "cook the perfect steak and make sushi, anything from scratch".
This year, Belles is writing another cookbook and has plans to travel. "My dream would be to go to Vietnam and Laos. I've got to start rebuilding my life first and then see what happens."
Just like her mother, Belles is an inspiration for women embracing life in their second act. "I've never felt stronger," she smiles, "Even after everything I've been through."
Menolicious: Eat Your Way to a Better Menopause is out now (published by DK Red )
Belles' house is for sale with Savills
