BBC iPlayer brings out Fanny for Easter

The BBC iPlayer is to provide a selection of classic television cookery for the Easter period.

Big in the ’70s: Fanny Cradock with her husband Johnnie on ATV’s Celebrity Squares.

Those who love a bit of televisual meal making can indulge in a feast of classic culinary programmes from the BBC’s archive this Easter weekend. Fifty popular BBC cookery shows, starring some of nation’s most loved cooks including Fanny Cradock and Delia Smith, will be available in the From The Archive category on BBC iPlayer from March 31.

The collection of programmes provides a fascinating snapshot into the evolution of the nation’s tastes – and BBC cookery shows – over time. With programmes spanning from 1970 to 2012, viewers can watch how eating and cooking habits, technology and presentation styles have developed as Britain embraced flavours from across the world.

The earliest programme in the collection, Fanny Cradock Invites You To… A Cheese And Wine Party was first broadcast in 1970. It sees the legendary TV cook prepare a sumptuous spread for a sophisticated soiree. With her over-the-top glamour, Fanny enticed the British public to create extravagant meals on a budget. Her recipes went on to define British food, particularly in the post-war period, and her Escoffier-inspired dishes were a refreshing change after years of rationing.

Other highlights from the collection include the no-nonsense cookery series where Delia Smith made her name, Delia Smith’s Cookery Course; the 1980s programme that first taught viewers how to use a wok, Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery; and the classic Caribbean cookery show, Caribbean Food Made Easy, with Levi Roots.

From the Archive launched on BBC iPlayer last September hosting over 400 programmes from the BBC’s vaults.