Beloved TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright, known for her role in the BBC show Two Fat Ladies alongside Jennifer Paterson, passed away at the age of 66 in March 2014. Her agency paid tribute to her, highlighting her non-PC personality and dedication to her beliefs. Dickson Wright had been unwell and hospitalized since the beginning of 2014, ultimately succumbing to pneumonia.
Before her death, Dickson Wright, a former barrister, and her partner Paterson gained fame for their cooking program in the 1990s. Born to prestigious parents, she inherited £2.8 million after her mother’s passing, which triggered a battle with depression and alcoholism. Dickson Wright openly discussed her struggles with alcoholism, emphasizing the importance of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in her life.
At the time of her passing, Dickson Wright still owed £17,000 to the HMRC but had savings of £9,000. Her possessions were auctioned off, raising approximately £40,000, with her goddaughter inheriting £33,000. The popular show Two Fat Ladies, featuring the duo traveling on a motorbike, aired on BBC Two from 1996 to 1999.
Moreover, Dickson Wright, who also served as the first female Rector of the University of Aberdeen, was known for her controversial statements, including advocating for the consumption of culled badgers. Paterson, her co-star, tragically passed away in 1999 during the filming of their TV series.