Two Fat Ladies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Two Fat Ladies was a British television cooking program that originally ran from 1996 to 1998 on BBC Two. It starred the late Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson-Wright travelling the United Kingdom on a Triumph Thunderbird (which Paterson drove) with sidecar to various destinations (such as an army camp or an all-girls' school) where they would prepare large meals, often with unusual ingredients and little regard for healthfulness. Both ladies were very fond of strong flavours, and would often use things like anchovies, garlic, and various herbs and spices quite liberally. On the other hand, the word "supermarket" was a dirty word, and vegetarians were often scoffed at. They were probably most famous for their unashamed use of lard, bacon fat and dripping. Both ladies were fierce supporters of organic produce and emphasized the importance of using fresh ingredients of the very best quality.

Jennifer Paterson was a devout Catholic and her uncle was a senior aide to the Archbishop of Westminster, therefore it was unsuprising that an episode was filmed at Westminster Cathedral and an Irish convent. Whilst cooking for the clergy at Westminster Cathedral, Jennifer cooked an original dish - Peaches Cardinal Hume. In the same episode, Clarissa Dickson-Wright demonstrated a Bubble and Squeak recipe which used 2 ounces of lard, which she insisted was the only fat that could ever get hot enough to produce the recipe as it should be produced. Similarly, her recipe for buttered spatchcock saw chickens covered with a thick layer of butter, bread and more butter on top of the bread which led to criticism by some journalists who considered them a bad influence on the British diet. The ladies had a dislike of vegetarians and both would speak quite disparigingly about them. In one episode, Jennifer explained that although Kedgeree had originally included lentils, a Colonel's maid who brought the dish back to England got rid of all the lentils. The story won cheers of support from Clarissa who said, "Hurrah! Get rid of all lentils. You've no idea how randy they make vegetarians".

Paterson was fond of singing and in most episodes would burst into song. One example was when she made Apple Pan Dowdy which she introduced with a verse from an Andrews Sisters song. Their banter was always humorous and they both revelled in cooking at grand locations. When cooking at Lennoxlove Hall, Clarissa explained how the Duchess of Lennox had left her estate to her nephew to which Jennifer declared, "That we should have such aunts!". Dickson-Wright often came across as the more sensible member of the double act but both would compliment each other on their dishes. Like most TV cooks in Britain, they were never seen eating their own creations.

Paterson's lifestyle was an unhealthy one. She was unconcerned with fat or calories and most episodes ended with Jennifer smoking a cigarette and drinking something alcoholic. Clarissa on the other hand was a recovered alcoholic and was usually seen sipping a glass of water instead. In 1998, the ladies filmed an episode at a Safari Park where Jennifer asked if she could take special care of the elephants. The close of the show was extended and instead of the usual one minute close with the two ladies talking, it ran to five minutes. This was perhaps a tribute to Jennifer Paterson who passed away after the filming of the episode. She informed Dickson-Wright by telephone that she was feeling ill and went to see the doctor. She had uncurable lung cancer and was hospitalised immediately. The day before she died, she asked Clarissa to take her a tin of caviar but when Dickson-Wright arrived at the hospital, Jennifer Paterson had died at the age of 71. Clarissa said that after Jennifer's funeral, she ate the caviar as a tribute to her friend.

The show ran for three seasons and although it was rumoured by the show's producer, Patricia Llewllyn, that the ladies hardly spoke to one another off-set, there is no evidence to confirm this and interviews with Dickson-Wright have suggested the opposite.

Besides describing the hosts, the term "two fat ladies" is a bingo call for the number 88. The motorcycle in the programme bore the appropriate registration number N88TFL.

It also appeared on the Food Network in the USA, and on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia.

[edit] In the Media and Popular Culture

The show was parodied on Royal Canadian Air Farce as "One Fat Lady" with the late John Morgan as Dickson-Wright making a fatty and sugary treat consisting of goose fat, greasy animal lard, a packet of Sugar Twin (if you're watching your figure like she is) and blackstrap molasses. It was known as "the same tasty treat that killed the other fat lady".

The two fat ladies appeared on an episode of Celebrity Deathmatch, fighting against Emeril Lagasse

[edit] Episodes

Volume 1 -
Fish & Shellfish:

Meat:

Fruit & Vegetables:

Volume 2 -
Cakes and Baking: Clarissa and Jennifer visit a picturesque British village where they help out the annual fair by baking cakes.
Jennifer cooks: Galette des Rois aux Amandes, Chopped Walnut and Coffee cake
Clarissa cooks: Yorkshire gingerbread, Danish Apple and Prune cake

Game: The Duke of Hamilton invites the ladies to his castle in Scotland where they cater a dinner for the local gentry. The ladies go hunting for grouse.
Jennifer cooks: Medallions of Venison and bramble jelly or blackberries, Rabbit with anchovies and capers
Clarissa cooks: Partridges with cabbage, Duntreath roast grouse, Pheasant and pickled walnut terrine

Food in the Wild: Jennifer and Clarissa go mushroom picking and join a troop of boyscouts in Kielder Forest, Northumberland.
Jennifer cooks: Shooters sandwich, Frittata with tomatoes, onions and basil
Clarissa cooks: Easy onion soup with stilton, Muttachar (spiced eggs), A Luau of trout

Volume 3 -
Lunch: Jennifer and Clarissa go to Britain's Lake District for vintage motorcycle rally
Jennifer cooks: Loin of pork stuffed with truffles, Chantal's stuffed tomatoes
Clarissa cooks: Clam chowder, Robert May's salmon

Cocktail Party: The ladies prepare hors d'oeuvres for the Brazilian ambassador's party.
Jennifer cooks: Devils on horseback, Bolinos de Bacalhau (Portugese cod cakes)
Clarissa cooks: Gambas in gabardinas, Acereje (Brazilian bean fritters), Blinys

Afternoon Tea: The Shillingford and Warborough cricket club are catered by the ladies during a match.
Jennifer cooks: Gentlemen's savoury shortcrust, Fresh fruit tartlets
Clarissa cooks: Rigo Jancsi Chocolate Slices, Queen Alexandra's sandwiches

Volume 4 -
Picnic: Jennifer and Clarissa prepare an al fresco feast for the Colwyn Male Voice Choir of North Wales. The ladies sample the local fish and chips by the pier.
Jennifer cooks: Tartine, Creme vichyssoise glace
Clarissa cooks: Mitton of pork, Welsh lamb pie

Breakfast: The owner of the Black Sheep Brewery in North Yorkshire invite the ladies to prepare breakfast for his brewers.
Jennifer cooks: Deviled kidneys, Kedgeree, Jugged kippers
Clarissa cooks: Corn griddle cakes, Huevos rancheros

Dinner: Clarissa and Jennifer prepare dinner for the Gurkhas, the British Empire's legendary fighting force.
Jennifer cooks: Coq au vin, Stuffed quail with white wine
Clarissa cooks: Beef with chestnuts, Pears and almonds, Turbot with watercress and pickled walnuts