- Born
- Died
- Birth namePhyllis Nan Sortain Pechey
- Height5′ 4½″ (1.64 m)
- Between the mid-50s and mid-70s, Fanny Cradock (born Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey) was a household name in the UK for her television appearances as a no-nonsense, abrasive chef. Her partner, Johnnie Cradock, often played the part of her henpecked onscreen husband, though they didn't actually get married until 1977, after her TV career had ended.
Cradock's reputation was such that a dramatisation, Fear of Fanny (2006), was made, and she was a target for parody, often impersonated by Benny Hill and others. Although a regular personality on television, her career is generally regarded as having ended after an appearance on Gwen Troake's Banquet (1976), where her rudeness to an amateur chef led to the BBC terminating her contract.
In later years Fanny was involved in the chat show circuit, including Episode #6.94 (1986). Although her role as a TV chef takes prominence in her public persona, she was also a restaurant critic and writer, authoring over 20 novels for adults, 10 novels for children, two autobiographies and multiple cookery and travel books. She died in December 1994, aged 85.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous
- SpousesJohnnie Cradock(May 7, 1977 - January 30, 1987) (his death)Gregory Holden-Dye(September 26, 1939 - ?) (annulled)Arthur W. Chapman(July 23, 1928 - ?) (separated, 1 child)Sidney A. Vernon Evans(October 10, 1926 - February 4, 1927) (his death, 1 child)
- Red haired, elegantly dressed and a commanding, husky voice
- Her career as a cook on TV programmes was ended after she appeared on a BBC programme Gwen Troake's Banquet (1976) in 1976, giving professional advice to an amateur cook Gwen Troake who had won a cookery competition and was preparing a dinner menu to serve to Prime Minister Edward Heath and Lord Louis Mountbatten. Fanny was objectionable, condescending and rude, pretending to be on the point of retching at some of Mrs Troake's suggestions, and generally belittling her efforts. Many viewers complained and two weeks later the BBC terminated Fanny's contract.
- Broadcaster Terry Wogan dubbed her "the lethal combination of Margaret Thatcher and Vlad the Impaler".
- Was married four times, twice bigamously.
- Journalist, novelist, Lecturer on food, wine, travel, and fashion
- Worked on television and radio under the name Phyllis Cradock from 1950 to around 1954, when she became Fanny
- Carping about the way cabbage is cooked in Britain is like shooting a sitting bird with a gun that isn't licensed, on a Sunday out of season.
- More dehydrated, deep-frozen and pre-prepared foodstuffs, the end of the Chinese restaurant and the dawn of cous-cous parties.
- To adults the language of 'disco' participants is as esoteric as that of two scientists swapping gen on germ warfare.
- The enormous increase in Italian restaurants since the war has given pasta a head start, and although a considerable incursion has been brought about by the pizza, I do not think this will be permanently ensconced.
- When it comes to cooking, the best friends of a working woman with a family are a three-tiered steamer and a casserole.
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