Mary Berry, the TV chef, has said she would like her children to be able to give her a pill to end her life as soon as she becomes a burden.
Berry, 79, the doyenne of British cookery shows, said she had no desire to emulate her mother, who lived to the age of 105. The star of The Great British Bake Off said that dying at the age of 90 appealed, adding that by that time “you’ve had a good innings”.
She told Radio Times: “I certainly don’t want to be a burden, although under British law you can do nothing about it. But I would love my children to be able to give me a pill, although I do understand that could be abused.”
Berry, who is named by the magazine as the second most powerful woman in television, follows a string of public figures who have entered the debate on assisted dying.
The Church of England has become split over the issue, with Lord Carey of Clifton, the former archbishop of Canterbury, backing the right of the terminally ill to be helped to die.
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Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the former lord chancellor, is attempting to push legislation through parliament that would allow doctors to end the lives of terminally ill patients.
Berry, whose father died aged 85, said she had “no desire to be a centenarian”, adding: “You have to deal with the cards that have been dealt, of course, but I don’t think very old age, if you haven’t got your marbles, can be very nice.”
Berry was speaking to the magazine as it named her the second most powerful woman in British TV and radio 2014, behind Olivia Colman, the actress.
Berry was described by Emma Freud, one of the judges, as “the woman who has brought dignity to reality TV”. Freud added: “The kindest, fairest, prettiest seventysomething in Britain and a woman of integrity.”
Berry said: “I want to continue to be a good granny and a good wife. My great privilege is that I can say ‘no’ to things, so I only do what I love. And I really do love Bake Off.”