ManOfYorkshire
Fanny Cradock Ruining Her Career.
Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey, better known as Fanny Cradock, was an English restaurant critic, television cook and writer frequently appearing on television, at cookery demonstrations and in print with Major Johnnie Cradock who played the part of a slightly bumbling husband.
As a result of 'The Big Time' TV show Fanny alienated the public, lost her contract with the BBC and became fair game for a drubbing by the media, which revealed that she and Major Cradock were not married.
In 1976 a housewife in Devon, Gwen Troake, won a competition called Cook of the Realm, leading to the BBC selecting her to organise a banquet to be attended by Edward Heath, Earl Mountbatten of Burma and other VIPs. The BBC filmed the result as part of a series called The Big Time, and asked Fanny Cradock, by then a tax exile in Ireland, to act as one of a number of experts giving Mrs Troake advice.
The result brought the end of Fanny Cradock's professional television career. Fanny, grimacing and acting as if on the verge of retching (Picture above from the TV Show) claimed not to know what a bramble was., She told Mrs Troake that her menu was too rich and insisted that it was not suitable, declaring, "You're among professionals now, dear." She also scorned Mrs Troake's use of an ingredient for being too "English", insisting that the English have never had their own cuisine, and that "even the good old Yorkshire pudding comes from Burgundy".
Robert Morley had also been consulted on the menu and said he felt that Mrs Troake's coffee pudding was perfect.
The public was annoyed that Fanny Cradock had seemingly ruined Mrs Troake's special day. Fanny wrote a letter of apology to Mrs Troake, but the BBC terminated her contract two weeks after the programme was broadcast. She never presented a cookery programme for the BBC again.
Speaking about the incident in 1999, The Big Time 's presenter Esther Rantzen described Cradock as "hell on wheels", and that she had "reduced this poor little lady [Troake] to nothing".
Fanny famously worked in various ball-gowns without the customary cook’s apron, averring that women should feel cooking was easy and enjoyable, rather than messy and intimidating.
In her early anonymous role as a food critic, working with Major Cradock under the name of ‘Bon Viveur’, Fanny introduced the public to unusual dishes from France and Italy, popularising the pizza in England. She is also credited as the originator of the Prawn Cocktail. She and Johnny worked together on a touring cookery show, sponsored by the Gas Council, to show how gas could be used easily in the kitchen and as their fame increased, Fanny’s shows transferred to television, where she enjoyed 20 years of success.
Fanny Cradock Ruining Her Career.
Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey, better known as Fanny Cradock, was an English restaurant critic, television cook and writer frequently appearing on television, at cookery demonstrations and in print with Major Johnnie Cradock who played the part of a slightly bumbling husband.
As a result of 'The Big Time' TV show Fanny alienated the public, lost her contract with the BBC and became fair game for a drubbing by the media, which revealed that she and Major Cradock were not married.
In 1976 a housewife in Devon, Gwen Troake, won a competition called Cook of the Realm, leading to the BBC selecting her to organise a banquet to be attended by Edward Heath, Earl Mountbatten of Burma and other VIPs. The BBC filmed the result as part of a series called The Big Time, and asked Fanny Cradock, by then a tax exile in Ireland, to act as one of a number of experts giving Mrs Troake advice.
The result brought the end of Fanny Cradock's professional television career. Fanny, grimacing and acting as if on the verge of retching (Picture above from the TV Show) claimed not to know what a bramble was., She told Mrs Troake that her menu was too rich and insisted that it was not suitable, declaring, "You're among professionals now, dear." She also scorned Mrs Troake's use of an ingredient for being too "English", insisting that the English have never had their own cuisine, and that "even the good old Yorkshire pudding comes from Burgundy".
Robert Morley had also been consulted on the menu and said he felt that Mrs Troake's coffee pudding was perfect.
The public was annoyed that Fanny Cradock had seemingly ruined Mrs Troake's special day. Fanny wrote a letter of apology to Mrs Troake, but the BBC terminated her contract two weeks after the programme was broadcast. She never presented a cookery programme for the BBC again.
Speaking about the incident in 1999, The Big Time 's presenter Esther Rantzen described Cradock as "hell on wheels", and that she had "reduced this poor little lady [Troake] to nothing".
Fanny famously worked in various ball-gowns without the customary cook’s apron, averring that women should feel cooking was easy and enjoyable, rather than messy and intimidating.
In her early anonymous role as a food critic, working with Major Cradock under the name of ‘Bon Viveur’, Fanny introduced the public to unusual dishes from France and Italy, popularising the pizza in England. She is also credited as the originator of the Prawn Cocktail. She and Johnny worked together on a touring cookery show, sponsored by the Gas Council, to show how gas could be used easily in the kitchen and as their fame increased, Fanny’s shows transferred to television, where she enjoyed 20 years of success.