TV Cream

TV: F is for...

Food and Drink

AS WITH everything in 1982, originally presented by SIMON BATES. The first ever episode featured a probably fascinating insight into the diet of Princess Diana. But by only the fifth show, the Bates man was axed and RUSSELL HARTY, HENRY KELLY and SUSAN GROSSMAN helmed for the next couple of years (though JILLY GOOLDEN was there from day one). In 1984 a resolutely un-stunt piece of casting took place as KELLY, H was swapped for KELLY, C. With CHRIS at the helm FOOD AND DRINK entered its imperial phase. Tudor-faced MICHAEL BARRY nee BUKHT joshed with the aforementioned Goolden over the best wine to serve with a blue steak, while Chris Kelly presented items on food labelling from in front of an oversized can of baked beans. Meanwhile OZ CLARKE fannied around as was his wont. Thankfully the programme was cancelled in 2002 before it could receive a TOP GEAR style trendy makeover.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. johnnyboy

    August 7, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    I always thought Gilly Goolden would’ve been ace at any house party, as long as she left off describing every darn drink she got in her hands. Down yer neck, hun!

  2. Arthur Nibble

    August 7, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    I’m getting buckets of ugly fruit!

  3. fl3m

    August 8, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    Reeves & Mortimer did a great pisstake of Food & Drink on the very first episode of ‘The Smell Of…’ when they joined the BBC

  4. David Pascoe

    August 9, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    “This was used in the second series only, I think, of a programme called Food and Drink. Starring of course, Chris Kelly and produced by Peter Bazalgette”.

  5. sb2009

    August 10, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    I emember that R&M kept changing the names round as the surname’s could always be used as a forname. Kelly Chris. Barry Michael. I seem to remember that I though this was funny. Now I’ve typed it down… hmmm

  6. Paul Gatenby

    August 12, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    I always noticed that Chris Kelly would never taste Michael Barry’s food when he was about to start his links. He’d just look awkward and go “Mm, yes, Michael … that really looks delicious. Now, when you think of eating snails you wouldn’t associate it with Yorkshire…”

  7. tomnamoon

    August 12, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    At christmas they would form 2 teams and have a quiz.

  8. Martin

    March 8, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    I remember Chris Kelly having a pointless interview with a food safety rep invited to the program to talk about fridges, Chris Kelly did not look impressed by his pompous manner, if looks could kill!.

  9. Richardpd

    February 3, 2024 at 10:44 pm

    Quite a good show from what I remember, usually on a Tudesday on BBC2.

    I presume it was a case of quitting while they were ahead, as it still seemed to be successful show when it ended, seemingly between eras of celebrity chefs.

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