Fanny Cradock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fanny Cradock
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Cradock in 1976
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| Born |
Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey
26 February 1909 Leytonstone, Essex, England
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| Died | 27 December 1994 (aged 85) Hailsham, East Sussex, England
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| Occupation | Television chef, novelist and food critic |
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| Children | 2 |
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Fanny Cradock (born Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey, 26 February 1909 – 27 December 1994) was a famous English television chef and writer. She was known for her exciting cooking shows and often appeared with her husband, Johnnie Cradock. Together, they became well-known for their unique cooking style and entertaining performances.
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Fanny Cradock's Early Life and Family
Fanny Cradock was born in Leytonstone, Essex, England. Her family lived at Fairlop Road, where a special plaque now marks her birthplace. It says: "Fanny Craddock 1909–1994. On this site until 1930 stood a house called Apthorp, birthplace of the famous TV cookery expert Fanny Craddock; born Phyllis Pechey."
Fanny's family moved around a lot because her parents had money troubles. They lived in places like Herne Bay, Swanage, and Bournemouth. When she was 15, Fanny went to Bournemouth High School (now Talbot Heath School). Later, she moved to London and faced tough times, working hard to make a living.
Fanny Cradock's Culinary Journey
Fanny Cradock's cooking career began when she started working in different restaurants. She learned a lot from the famous chef Auguste Escoffier. Fanny believed that Escoffier helped make British cooking much better.
Fanny and Johnnie Cradock started writing a cooking column called "Bon Viveur" for The Daily Telegraph newspaper from 1950 to 1955. This led them to perform live cooking shows in theatres. They would cook huge meals for the audience, like a whole roast turkey with its head and feathers! Their shows were very entertaining, with Fanny playing a strong wife and Johnnie acting like a funny, slightly confused husband.
Becoming a TV Cooking Star
In 1955, Fanny Cradock started her very successful BBC television cooking show. Each year, the BBC would publish a booklet with all her recipes. Fanny loved to bring fancy, restaurant-style food into people's homes. She gave all her recipes French names, even though they were often quite affordable.
Fanny cared about her viewers and often said things like "This won't break you" or "This is perfectly economical." She wanted everyone to enjoy good food without spending too much.
As she got older, Fanny's style became very unique. She wore big, flowing dresses and lots of makeup on TV. Her shows often included family and friends as assistants.
Fanny and Johnnie also worked with the British Gas Council. They appeared at big events like the Ideal Home Exhibition and made short films showing people how to use gas cookers. Fanny always used gas stoves on her TV shows and even said she didn't like electric ones!
Some of her Christmas cooking shows, like Fanny Cradock Cooks for Christmas, are still shown today on channels like BBC Four and Good Food. She appeared in 24 different TV series between 1955 and 1975.
A Famous TV Moment and Career Change
In 1976, a farmer's wife named Gwen Troake won a cooking competition. The BBC decided to feature her in a TV show called The Big Time. Gwen was asked to plan a special lunch for important guests, including former Prime Minister Edward Heath. She asked Fanny Cradock and other experts for advice.
During the show, Fanny was very critical of Gwen's menu ideas. She made faces and said Gwen's choices were not good enough for such an important event. Fanny suggested different dishes, but Gwen wanted to stick to her own recipes.
The public was very upset by Fanny's rude behavior towards Gwen. Many people felt she had ruined Gwen's special moment. The Daily Telegraph newspaper even wrote that people were angrier than they had been since 1940! Fanny wrote an apology letter to Gwen, but the BBC ended her contract soon after. She never hosted another cooking show for the BBC.
Fanny Cradock's Later Years
Fanny and Johnnie Cradock spent their last years living in Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex. They often appeared on TV chat shows like The Generation Game and Blankety Blank. Fanny also appeared alone on shows like Wogan and Parkinson. Her last TV appearance was in 1988.
Fanny Cradock's Personal Life
Fanny Cradock was married several times. Her first husband, Sidney A. Vernon Evans, died in a plane crash shortly after they married. She had a son, Peter, who was adopted by his grandparents. Peter later became a chef at a famous hotel.
She then married Arthur William Chapman and had another son, Christopher. However, this marriage did not last long. Fanny later met John Whitby "Johnnie" Cradock, who was a major in the army. Johnnie was already married with children, but he left his wife to be with Fanny. They couldn't legally marry for a long time because Arthur would not agree to a divorce. Fanny changed her last name to Cradock in 1942. They finally married in 1977, after Fanny was told Arthur had passed away (though he actually lived for another year). Johnnie died in 1987.
Fanny Cradock's Death
Fanny Cradock passed away on 27 December 1994, after having a stroke. She was 85 years old. Both Fanny and Johnnie were cremated in Eastbourne, and there is a memorial plaque and a rosebush for them there.
Fanny Cradock's Lasting Impact
Fanny Cradock became famous after World War II, when food was still scarce. She tried to inspire people to make exciting and exotic dishes. She often cooked in fancy ballgowns instead of an apron, to show that cooking could be fun and easy, not messy.
Working with Johnnie as "Bon Viveur," Fanny introduced many new foods to the British public, like pizza. Their touring cooking shows, sponsored by the Gas Council, helped them become even more famous.
Fanny Cradock is also credited with popularizing the prawn cocktail in the United Kingdom. She made it a well-known dish across the country.
Fanny always tried to help people save money. She suggested cheaper ways to make her recipes, which were very popular. The BBC published her recipes in booklets, making her one of the most famous chefs of her time. Even though her recipes looked fancy, they were used by many people, and her cookbooks sold very well.
Many famous chefs, like Marguerite Patten and Delia Smith, have said that Fanny Cradock helped improve British cooking and inspired their own careers. Even singer Amy Winehouse said she loved cooking after reading Fanny's books.
Fanny Cradock in Media
Fanny Cradock's unique voice and dramatic style made her a popular subject for comedy. She was often parodied in radio shows and TV programs like The Two Ronnies and Benny Hill.
Her life has also been featured in plays and TV dramas. The play Fear of Fanny was even turned into a TV show in 2006. More recently, in 2022, a TV show called Sister Boniface Mysteries featured characters who were clearly based on Fanny and Johnnie Cradock.
