BBC star died penniless after epic downfall despite once owning Rolls

Fanny Cradock, once the reigning queen of British cookery, was known for her flamboyance, fear-inducing demeanour, and firm control.

However, decades after she commanded the BBC airwaves in a ballgown and pearls, the original celebrity chef died penniless, alone in a squalid flat, and forgotten by the industry she once dominated.

With her signature scolding voice and a wardrobe brimming with chiffon, Fanny was the first true kitchen TV star. She whipped up dishes like flambéed veal brains and green-dyed potatoes, all while barking orders at her monocle-clad husband Johnnie, who stood dutifully by her side, wine in hand.

At the peak of her fame, Fanny was invincible. She owned a Rolls-Royce, a boat in Cannes, and hosted glamorous parties at her South London home - which she reportedly e