Fanny Cradock Cooks for Christmas Part 3 - Your Christmas Cake 1975

[@zeddeka]

Fanny Craddock was born in 1909 - she was literally an Edwardian. This is definitely a bit of history we're watching. She was 66 here and still very glamorous and energetic.

[@marcse7en]

That's nothing! My grandfather was Victorian, born in 1884! ... Yes, that's right! ... I knew a Victorian gentleman born in the 19th century! He was a nice man, just like me!

[@1953childstar]

@@marcse7en Myself as well… My "fathers father" was also born in 1884. The one thing I remember about him was that he was always dressed in a suit for breakfast and he adored "4 Roses Whiskey"..

[@zeddeka]

@@marcse7en my great grandmother was a Victorian too. If you're born within a certain era, you're bound to have known people from that era????

[@benswindlehurst1857]

@@marcse7en Yeah well, that's nothing. My grandfather was actually born in the Tudor times, born in 1577...Yes, that's right...I knew a Tudor man.

[@marcse7en]

@@benswindlehurst1857 It's funny, because I was recently discussing fantasists with friends and family, and how pointless their lies are, because nobody will believe a word they say. Clearly, you're a case in point, and what you say is, "nothing."

[@PDXGregor]

It’s 48 years later, and I’d wager that poor Sarah is still in therapy.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

I believe so.

[@lisab4207]

Christmas cake triggers PTSD.

[@lucyhurst2534]

48 years later and I’d wager that cake tastes as stale as it will have done then.

[@jameskeeth4037]

Looks as dry as fanny 😂

[@elainethomson5826]

Poor Sarah she treated her helpers like muck that cake looks piss poor 😂

[@robcarrick27]

"...sorry for that noise...". You know that was the moment that the decision was made to bundle Sarah into the back of a van and drive her out into the middle of nowhere...

[@matthewturcotte5079]

Is that bucket filled with Sarah’s tears?

[@markczarny7088]

I thought it was a younger zDe.iah Smith I know she did have a stint with Fanny

[@AnxiousHank]

13:05 Obsessed with the way Fanny says “I’m going to CUT you a slice…” 😂

[@samgodden8920]

We know where the horror movies get their inspiration

[@independentpuppy7520]

She was hilarious, yet frightening.

[@heatherlawson3437]

I won't be copying her make-up! 😆

[@denisespencer6550]

She didn't mess about

[@richardphillips1971]

Yeh she was an eccentric old bird

[@papadop]

Either I'm completely exhausted, or there's something somewhat asmr and relaxing about Fanny.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

An excellent sentence out of context

[@frannieo1707]

Yes, you're knackered! Time for a lie down.

[@queenofkingsbury]

This is fabulous. We had Julia Childs in the U.S. I never saw Fanny before, she is delectable ♥️ Just love the bucket of water for washing hands!! 1975 television

[@tonyjones2308]

It’s interesting but it seems Cradock did influence Childs. Im sure I remember an episode of Julia Childs where she mentions Fanny Cradock by name. I think it was an omelette episode.

[@0010-n8q]

@@tonyjones2308what’s fanny saying?

[@fraserkatie]

Sarah nearly took the spatula away!!! 😂😂😂😂 Fanny was horrified!!!

[@yolandajones4990]

“Nooooooooooo!” 🤣🤣🤣

[@denisespencer6550]

She nearly went beserk. Lol

[@yolandajones4990]

@@denisespencer6550 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@denisespencer6550]

​@@yolandajones4990😂😂🤣🤣

[@babychickenstudios]

Fanny: Nooooooooo! 😱 Sarah: 😞

[@Sweetthang9]

SHE HAS TO MAKE IT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF YOU

[@C-Rex1]

I love the pause she does after saying "Now obviously I've done the buttercream".

[@MsEcstreet]

Hysterical--the bucket with water to wash her hands is a riot! God bless the 70's!! I guess English studios back then couldn't afford a decent kitchen with a sink but, the old girl pulls it off! Bravo!!!

[@dood1e678]

Delia actually shot her first cookery course in a studio without running water, too (3 years later than Fanny, in 1978). I guess studios weren't ready for televised cooking back then.

[@zeddeka]

Apparently she shot the whole series, each episode one after another, in several hours of one day. God knows how long it took her to change her dresses! As you can tell, it was all done on an absolute shoestring budget during the really bad economic turbulence and hyper inflation of the mid 1970s. Very grim times.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

At the time Britain was on 3 & 4 day weeks, constant strikes for everything and power cuts. She keeps referencing cheap ingredients and how to cook with minimal fuel. It really is an encyclopaedia of the time.

[@distortedfeatures]

This is her recipe for the white Christmas cake - I found it on the web. 7 oz sifted self raising flour 31/2 oz cornflour 9 1/2 oz floured, rough cut glacé cherries 8 oz rough cut glacé pineapple 7 1/2 oz unsalted butter 8 oz sifted icing sugar 4 eggs 4 oz mixed diced peel 8 oz sultanas 2 oz roughly chopped walnuts or hazelnuts 2 oz diced angelica 2 fl oz brandy Grated rind and juice of an orange 1 teaspoon each of orange flower water and rose water Sift the flour and cornflour together, set aside. In another bowl, mix the cherries, pineapple, peel, sultanas, nuts and angelica. In a third bowl, mix brandy, flower waters and orange juice. Add the eggs and whip thoroughly. Cream the butter until very soft. Gradually whip in the sugar and orange rind. With your hands, take a handful of flour and mixed fruits with a little liquid and beat up by hand. Keep adding until all mixed. Turn into prepared tin, sit in a base of brown papers and bake for one hour at Gas Mark 3, then turn down the heat to Gas Mark 2 1/2 for a further 20 minutes. Test with a skewer or listen for singing. If required bake for another 20 minutes at reduced heat of Gas Mark 2. Cover with almond paste when cold, ice with fondant.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Cool! Thanks! What’s angelica tho? Where do you get it?

[@multimill]

@@EphemeralProductions Amazon sell it or some health food stores

[@madabbafan]

@@EphemeralProductions it is the canded stem if the Angelica plant. Not many shops sell it these days but you might find it at places like Holland and Barret (in the UK) or online.

[@satyris410]

​@@EphemeralProductions health food shops will sell it,

[@kblake4670]

Thank you!

[@DevonPixie1991]

Why am I watching Fanny Cradock Christmas videos in the middle of June

[@StevieWeevie66]

I used to watch the old girl when it was first aired in 75 when I was 9. I felt like a rabbit caught in headlights. Headlights with painted arched eyebrows.

[@frogstamper]

Same here, I was 11 in 75 and what I remember most about her, apart from the bossiness, was the way she used to wind my old dad up...I can still hear him saying "I don't know why Jonnie puts up with her".

[@greatwesternsky]

hahaha

[@GohAhweh]

This speaks to me as well.. 1966 baby here..

[@joanhooper453]

I still make her brandy butter after watching her 60 years ago 😃😃

[@jabbaa6500]

I made her cake last year it was great, one in the fridge wrapped up and fed with brandy a few times. Just tasted it last night, OMG it is over the top fantastic! This year it's her bud and trifle. And I have "the booklet" it's all in there for certain!

[@scswp6945]

Wow - you have the famous booklet? I find this series hilarious, but there is the occasional recipe worth making.

[@Sweetthang9]

It's not a BOOKLET Frank, its a small book.

[@ninerogers3870]

"I've scrubbed and scrubbed downstairs..." Lordy, TMI Fanny 😳

[@johndaarteest]

Well what about "I've creamed it till it's loose and floppy" 😐

[@Dbdbe1]

Hahahaha

[@rosiebottom3870]

😂

[@istvanpraha]

I like her accent and how she makes it sound like she is saying something deeply profound at 5:52, even though she's just giving basic instructions.

[@dream-67]

We need to bring back some of her phrases such as "Pell mell"

[@envsf03]

I wish the bbc would publish the booklet for this series online. I would like to try and make some of the recipes.

[@zeddeka]

Someone has posted the Xmas cake recipe here in the comments

[@whatswrongwithpeople-xq2uk]

I love love watching fanny cooking shows even though i know she was horrible she stilll fascinates me

[@Brentford-rf5sh]

Always liked the theme music since the 70s.

[@hedgemist691]

In Dulce Jubilo, Mike Oldfield. It was released as a single Christmas 1975.

[@rah62]

Sarah might still be living - it'd be fun to find her and interview her about her terrifying experiences on these programs.

[@marcse7en]

Sarah's in a nursing home for the bewildered! ... She's 68, and suffering PTFD! (Post Traumatic Fanny Disorder) 🤣

[@denisespencer6550]

​@@marcse7ennow now Lol

[@david18ireland]

4:51 theeerrreee it is. the real Fanny shining through ;)

[@independentpuppy7520]

LOL I bet Sarah was terrified.

[@yolandajones4990]

🤣🤣🤣

[@sunkat76]

@@independentpuppy7520 I think Sarah must have been quietly euphoric at that point 'Ah the camera never lies Fanny. The public see you now!'

[@ladybancroft2488]

Omg, this woman had me in stitches....😂😂 I love the way she's taken the pee out of so many people, but also the way she asks her helper sarah....oh god it was hysterically funny.... loved it xx

[@pugwoman1341]

That looks delicious. She makes it look so doable,

[@franktreml3145]

When she ‘smiles’ and signs off she looks sinister 😂

[@lisab4207]

Imagine Fanny as your home economics teacher?😮

[@dd7521]

Mine WAS like that.

[@yolandajones4990]

I’d rather not 🤣

[@dd7521]

@@yolandajones4990 🤣

[@just_justine_2023]

Omg mine was like this, too?!

[@lulululululu5385]

my god this woman is unhinged I love it. looks like I found my newest obsession along with my queen Sandra Lee

[@rah62]

She'd bitchslap that drunk Sandra Lee into the next area code.

[@maggiemay6625]

i loved watching this with me mam great memories ❤️

[@0010-n8q]

My son watched it every Christmas with me on telly.. he’s now 27..& i shared it with him yesterday as well as Freddy Starr mimicking fanny on his show..i laughed so much after 70’s & 80’s..( i hadn’t laughed since then )

[@franpotter5041]

It's not Christmas without a bit of Fanny!

[@marcse7en]

Which bit would that be then? ... There's certainly no ignoring her tongue! 🤣

[@jeremynv89523]

The story she tells at 9:30 reveals that she was quite a talented ranconteur.

[@zeddeka]

She was a regular on a lot of chat shows back then

[@angelamaryquitecontrary4609]

She was also the author of a series of novels - some family of rarefied means and exquisite manners. I first saw the long line of books at the library when I was eleven; I used that library weekly until I left at eighteen for university, and I never saw a single gap on the shelf from that series.

[@richardadkin7226]

The " Bye" at the end makes me cringe 🤣 Strained expression.

[@Shayne_Muir]

Drinking game take a shot every time she says it’s in the booklet

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

4:51 the real Fanny emerges. She was a vicious harridan.

[@emmajanewatts4388]

She was a bloody wonderful vicious harridan 🤣

[@EphemeralProductions]

She was a bossy overbearing wench, from what i see. I’ve dealt with a few in my time, unfortunately. Not anyone i was romantically involved with either.

[@emmajanewatts4388]

@@EphemeralProductions I know but there’s just something wonderful about her. Not sure I’d like to of met her thou 😂

[@Zoe-dr5ps]

Lol what a funny comment 😂😂😂

[@sunkat76]

but an absolute bugger for icing sugar

[@soylentgreennewdealtimeshare]

Culinary UHU, mind you.

[@vasilis8208]

4:51: Noooo! 😄

[@jackasmr2691]

I find her captivating but she terrifies me at the same time 😅

[@englishincontext4025]

While she was a bit of a monster, I think she was the ultimate professional. Watching this, she's word perfect, her narrative is flawless and her ability to progress from one stage to another terrific. If I've anything negative to say it's that the lighting was terrible.

[@Sally237-s4w]

It was just fanny I don’t think she was being belligerent in anyway..she like to show her no nonsense cooking skills xxx

[@adawn9291]

Totally agree. She's one of those people who has a very quick wit, and doesn't suffer fools. They can come across as intimidating for sure. I've known a few in my lifetime, and I actually find their candor easier to navigate, socially.

[@monkfan72]

Everything is in the booklet. 😊👍

[@stephenpeachey2976]

11.03 what happens to her voice, Demonic possession?

[@leannes8745]

It would not surprise me in the slightest if it was 😂

[@feliciak9968]

That made me laugh hard, I thought at first something was wrong with my speaker… glad I’m not the only who noticed.

[@hedgemist691]

Lol, I'm still laughing.

[@krg1965]

Sounds like she was talking to Barzini 🙂

[@yolandajones4990]

Can you imagine going into Boots or Superdrug nowadays and asking for orange water for culinary use? 🤣

[@elainethomson5826]

You will be ok they may have to order it in for you tho we do keep it in our pharmacy but boots May not 😂

[@yolandajones4990]

@@elainethomson5826 wow really? I had no idea you could still walk into a pharmacy and buy this kind of thing!

[@rosiebottom3870]

​@@elainethomson5826 that's why I love independent chemists- you find all sorts.

[@jaredini]

I used to buy Lysol in small independent chemists, but seemed to have disappeared in the UK.

[@harleydancer9045]

Fanny sure loved her family to do all that work.

[@Itsmellissaaaa]

Her family?? She left her kids she was a terrible mother her own son called her evil

[@feeltheforce10]

Theres a very good film on here played by actors about her life.Its called Fear Of Fanny if you search for it.

[@kona702]

Looks delicious

[@stephenturner3056]

Come on Sarah!!

[@gaggymott9159]

Poor Sarah! 🤣

[@richardphillips1971]

The phrase money for old rope comes from the days of oakum picking in workhouses, children would pull apart ropes that were clogged and it was sold to shipbuilding companies to plug up holes in wood.

[@annoldham3018]

She was so funny, camp and scary 😂. Remember her banana candles?

[@rosiebottom3870]

I saw them today - gross! A bit of Angelica for a fake flame - no

[@glyph2011]

02:44 Was 1975 the same economic climate as 2023? Fanny keeps mentioning it. Prices astronomical?

[@meganoikz]

Pretty much yeah, there was a recession in most of the West from 1973-1975.

[@cameronhamilton3717]

Orange flower water and rose water from the chemist. It shows you how much the world has changed.

[@madabbafan]

In the 70s olive oil was only really sold at the chemist as well, in small bottles and was used to soften ear wax.

[@nickhickson8738]

@@madabbafan Oh, I used Oil and Vinegar. Shaken well, of course.

[@Sally237-s4w]

I’ve got a sister like fanny lol..she’s a good cook too.

[@assajventress3204]

Swear to god i thought she was gonna hit sarah when she took the spatula.

[@ivanahavitoff7308]

You can see the cake shes spreading jam all over is from a shop with the side wrapper taken off!

[@MichaelYoder1961]

Fanny: I'll tell you how to make this. Also Fanny: Buy the booklet, because I'm not going to tell you the ingredients, you twits.

[@cclewes7373]

I felt sorry for her husband, who HAD to eat this.

[@tony8074]

And she did that all in an evening frock.

[@Sweetthang9]

Those bottles are straight up from the 19th century.

[@youarewhatyouare]

She was massive in 60s and early seventies then like percy thrower was too big for boots so done away with you know the system folks remember the beatles built em up to knock em down fanny was a comics dream

[@john_smith1471]

I like the budget BBC set, limited money spent on that, no fitted units or worktop just two gas stoves, no sink or running water, a bucket of water hidden underneath to wash your hands.

[@minecachair]

Poor Sarah.....

[@danyaradimacher6581]

4:45 When the old boiler went off the handle lol

[@TotallyLostSoul]

Someone should definitely do a Fanny Cradock drag act. Her whole persona was made for parody.

[@chrishopewynne2845]

Hope your donuts all taste like Fanny’s 😘😀

[@garydavid1788]

ooh err Missus ....

[@emmacarroll5224]

It's money for old rope isn't it? 😂

[@vasilis8208]

Nowadays, I'd use my food processor for mixing the cake ingredients, it would take about 5 minutes!

[@john-y1i6l]

Was Johnny drunk under the counter?

[@cdn1024]

I was so scared for Sarah omg

[@hedgemist691]

Yes, Sarah never spoke. She was so frightened of Fanny, she was struck mute!

[@madabbafan]

the one she put the almond paste on was clearly shop bought - you could see the paper indentations on it

[@RodKirkbride]

madabbafan Dahling, how very dare you!!

[@madabbafan]

@@RodKirkbride do you think Fanny would have gone 'right off me' for saying that?

[@RodKirkbride]

madabbafan not only would she have "gone orff you dahling", you would have been stabbed like the goose. Or stuffed dahling. Its one upmanship you see?

[@madabbafan]

@@RodKirkbride Then I would have to declare "Fanny Cradock wares a wig - she stole it off a corpse" (too far?)

[@RodKirkbride]

madabbafan no not really. Fanny would kick your arse though. And mine. All middle aged women were like this when I was a kid in the '70's.

[@bratcampaddict]

She seems like she wants to go "oh damn or equivalent" when she sees the tray still on the bench..

[@bellaboop1]

"If you're not deaf listen, if you are deaf then skewer it! " Out apologies to the deaf 🙄

[@GohAhweh]

🌹We Love Fanny 💋 Slosh it!!🤪

[@marclegarreta]

And that smoker’s voice!

[@sarahlouise7163]

so relaxing - not. permanently on edge here 😁

[@irenestephenson8624]

I was only 3 years old at the time 😅😂🤣🤣

[@nope24601]

Anyone know where to get her booklet?

[@minecachair]

Way ahead of her time-how to bake a cake if you're deaf.

[@EphemeralProductions]

“Go right off you”? Meaning she would correct you in a harsh way? Never heard that term before

[@robinnes2662]

Stop liking you essentially.

[@zeddeka]

To "go off" something or someone is to stop liking it / them

[@yamyam_1978]

"Orf"

[@seansmith445]

Wasn't she wonderful.

[@natmakepeace]

Did i mention the booklet..??

[@viviennepopek]

Awful but she's entertaining! 👍💖👏

[@0010-n8q]

What’s she saying?

[@krg1965]

11:02 Fanny talked to Barzini

[@lewis8423]

Was that really her name ? Fanny ? Or this a wynde up ?

[@jf9488]

4:51 why did she freak out like that?

[@Orlkov]

Who here say this on Gogglebox?

[@EphemeralProductions]

So funny how she shaved her eyebrows and never even used an eyebrow pencil like women did back in those days. lol

[@offtopic5307]

The Ellen Degeneres of cooking shows.

[@riskkerroo724]

Also what the heck was happing economically wise in Britain in the 1970s? Was it the war that made everything expensive or hard to come by?

[@hedgemist691]

Strikes, high unemployment, rampant inflation, lack of modernisation in industry etc. It was a global problem though, not specifically British.

[@vasilis8208]

@@hedgemist691 A bit like what's happening now, really...

[@madabbafan]

@@vasilis8208 true but in the mid to late 70s income tax was even higher with the basic rate (now 20%) was over 30% and the upper rate (now 40%) was in excess of 70%

[@zeddeka]

If you're American, look at what was happening in America back then. The whole western world was suffering from the oil shock, where prices of oil went through the roof and it caused hyper inflation. The price of everything went through the roof and it caused a lot of social tensions. Jimmy Carter famously made the "malaise" speech about America in 1979 and much the same thing was happening in the UK

[@InFltSvc]

Is that a man or a women?

[@exploitsguy]

It's still a Mistry to this day

[@psychosoma5049]

She’s just creakingly posh lol

[@paulwright9749]

Dear Fanny made that cake in the same manner as someone building a brick wall. Can you imagine spending Christmas with her. A complete narcissist that openly slagged off one of her viewers. 😒😒

[@bostonteaparty3926]

8:25 looks horrible!

[@andromalius8890]

She’s like a posher version of my great aunt

[@ConkerKing]

This lady terrified me as a kid… i still find her somewhat demonic…😮

[@riskkerroo724]

I think it’s so interesting and funny how much the English love fruit in desserts. I’m sure it’s historical like they didn’t have sugar forever or something and fruit is sweet but it’s so bizarre. I love the tradition of it all tho.

[@ah7910]

I’m struggling to think of one culture that doesn’t use fruit in their desserts, baked goods and sweets.

[@feliciak9968]

I think they mean jellied or candied fruits which are a staple of British dessert fare.

[@zeddeka]

​@@feliciak9968hmm, really not so sure they are. If you look at all the classic traditional desserts like apple crumble, Eton mess, raspberry fool. No candied fruits. Candied fruits tend only to be used in specific Christmas cakes.

[@zeddeka]

?? I don't think there's any type of national cuisine that doesn't use fruit extensively in desserts. If you're talking about candied fruit, that is only really used in specific Christmas dishes. Traditional everyday British desserts use fresh fruit - like apple / rhubarb / gooseberry crumble, raspberry fool or Eton Mess.

[@MarleneClough]

Is this person American? I am always a bit confused because Americans seem to call any thing we would put on the tea table 'dessert'! Cakes biscuits etc not the sort of thing we eat for pudding at all so maybe that is why it seems strange

[@bostonteaparty3926]

She was such a hot mess!

[@RealityEscapeeMeeeeeee]

Do many people. Elieve the rumour that Fanny was really a man? I'm not sure but she waa horrifying looking.

[@madabbafan]

Nah no drag queen would dare go on stage or on TV looking that bad.

[@fredrikalarsson3962]

Not possible, she had children

[@Sweetthang9]

@@fredrikalarsson3962 Did you watch her give birth?

[@karlstewart2220]

Vile creature