Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey, better known as Fanny Cradock, was a dominant figure in British television from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s, showcasing her no-nonsense, abrasive personality as a chef.
Her on-screen partner, Johnnie Cradock, often played the role of her on-screen husband, but they didn't actually get married until 1977, after her television career had concluded.
Fanny Cradock's reputation was so significant that a dramatization, Fear of Fanny (2006),was created, and she became a frequent target for parody, with comedic impersonations by Benny Hill and others.
Although she was a regular television personality, her career generally came to an end following an appearance on Gwen Troake's Banquet (1976),where her rudeness to an amateur chef led to the BBC terminating her contract.
In her later years, Fanny Cradock participated in the chat show circuit, including an episode of Episode #6.94 (1986).
While her role as a TV chef is prominent 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.
Fanny Cradock passed away in December 1994, at the age of 85.
