Brief Profile

Clarissa Dickson Wright is remembered as a celebrity TV chef with a larger-than-life personality. After her convent school education, she studied law, and at 21 became the youngest barrister in England. Her Australian mother, Molly Bath, left her a large fortune, which she squandered on indulgent living, and which in the end resulted in her alcoholism.

She renounced alcohol when she was 40, moved to East Lothian, and opened the “Cooks’ Bookshop” in Edinburgh. At the same time, she and Jennifer Paterson starred in the television cookery programme “Two Fat Ladies” (and a motorbike) which was a popular hit and ran for three seasons. Her celebrity status led to her being elected rector of Aberdeen University in 1998, the first woman rector in its history. She served for two consecutive terms, an unusual occurrence.

Clarissa was loud, opinionated and knew all the ‘best’ people. She loved stately homes and country pursuits, being vocal in her support of the Countryside Alliance.

She was three times bankrupt. Her autobiographical writing is entertaining but may need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

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