Maggie Beer reveals the heartwarming act that helped her cope with daughter Saskia’s death at age 46

Celebrity chef Maggie Beer has revealed how filming DIY cooking tutorials helped her process the grief of losing her daughter Saskia during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Saskia Bear, Maggie’s eldest child, died unexpectedly in her sleep in February 2020 at just 46 years old.

The tragedy coincided with Australia’s Covid lockdowns, forcing Maggie to grieve from the confines of her own home.

Speak against Australian women’s magazine this month, Maggie, 78, recalled how she turned to her own kitchen as a place of solace at the time.

“I wanted to give something back, and that got me through it [the grief]. “I did all those ‘Cooking with Maggie’ videos. Just my assistant with a phone and me. For a while I did them every day,” she explained.

“Nothing helps you through the rawness. Nothing. But if you’re doing something you love that you can give to other people… It’s about having a purpose, and that purpose has helped as much as possible to be helped.”

Maggie, who also shares another daughter named Elli with her husband Colin Beer, also relied on professional guidance and the support of her family to help her through this difficult time.

“No one wants to go through this. I desperately needed help, and the help is to understand that you never get through grief, but it comes next to you and you go on living, and eventually you find joy again,” she noted.

“I wanted to give something back, and that got me through it [the grief]. “I did all those ‘Cooking with Maggie’ videos. Just my assistant with a phone and me. For a while I did them every day,” she told The Australian Women’s Weekly

Saskia was a cook and entrepreneur with a free-range poultry farm.

Thousands paid their respects to Saskia when she died, from celebrity chefs and school friends to market regulars, patrons and fans who knew her from TV.

“The overwhelming expression of compassion and support for Maggie, Colin and family at this tragic time was truly moving,” Maggie said at the time.

Maggie, who also has another daughter named Elli with her husband Colin Beer, also relied on professional guidance and the support of her family to help her through this difficult time.

Meanwhile, her daughter’s memory lives on as her family founded the Saskia Beer Churchill Fellowship.

The Fellowship helps young people interested in food and agriculture nurture and develop that passion.

It comes as Maggie prepares to have a guest appearance on the new season of The Great Australian Bake Off, after leaving the show last year.

Saskia was a cook and entrepreneur with a free-range poultry farm

In a statement on Sunday, she said: “Returning to the Bake Off set has been a joy. The new team received a warm welcome. It was exciting to see the talented contestants,” she said in a statement on Sunday.

“The Bake Off is home to so much positive energy and warmth, something I’m proud to have contributed over the past five seasons.”

New judge Darren Purchese said it was an honor to see Maggie back on set.

“Being a Bake Off judge is a dream come true, and sharing this experience with Maggie is special indeed,” he said.

It comes as Maggie prepares to make a guest appearance on the new season of The Great Australian Bake Off, having left the show last year. Maggie is pictured in the middle with the show’s judges (L-R) Cal Wilson, Rachel Khoo, Darren Purchese and Natalie Tran