Strange South

Fanny and Johnnie Cradock

Fanny spent her last remaining years in residence at Ersham House, Hailsham, after being found living alone and in squalor by a family friend, Phil Bradford, who gained power of attorney to ensure she was cared for until her death from a stroke, in 1994.  

Gordon Astley talks to Clive Ellis, author of "Fabulous Fanny Cradock", a book which tells all about the four marriages, the abandoned children and the love of her life, Johnny. 

FABULOUS FANNY CRADOCK: LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

Julia Davis as Fanny Cradock

In February 2007, BBC Four televised their own take on the life of the fearsome chef, Fear of Fanny, with Julia Davis in the title role.

Devised from interviews with Fanny"s colleagues, family and critics, Fear of Fanny was  written and adapted by Brian Fillis.

The doyenne of housewives during the 60s and 70s, her diet-defying dishes, withering put-downs and pancake make-up made her the scourge of traditional British cooking.

FANNY ON FILM

FANNY FACTS

• She is credited with the creation of the 1970's classic starter, the prawn cocktail.

• She was dumped on her grandmother's billiard table at the age of one, and was bought up by her grandparents for the next nine years.

• During the war, Fanny and Johnny ate thrifty dishes such as baked hedgehog, a recipe which found its way into one of her cookery books! 

• Fanny had a penchant for using food colouring and piping bags in her cookery, green, piped mash potato being a favourite.... a style which eventually became outdated.

• The famous doughnut line, "You too can have doughnuts like Fanny's" has been  attributed to Johnny, but was actually, almost certainly said by a Scottish continuity announcer and not by Johnnie at all. 

• Gordon Ramsay once described Fanny as "his fantasy date"!

Follow Fanny on TV!

We have managed to track down an original copy of the book that accompanied Fanny's 1965 BBC television series, which was broadcast on Sundays between 10.00 and 10.30am, on the 25th April to the 27th June.  

Called Home Cooking with Fanny, the programme and book were designed by her, so that beginners with no background knowledge of cookery "can make a start, and others who are competent home cooks can revitalise the family meals."

Presumably with green mashed potato..... 

Why not give these recipes a go and then email us at southerncounties@bbc.co.uk and let us know what you thought!

FANNY IN THE KITCHEN