Cook's Night Out (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
The only known photo of Cook's Night Out.
Status: Lost
Cook's Night Out is an early five-part BBC television cooking show. Hosted by French chef Marcel Boulestin, it is claimed by BBC Archive to be the first-ever television cookery show.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
Five episodes were broadcast live every fortnight, from January 21st to March 18th, 1937. It involved Boulestin making various dishes, which could be combined together to make an "excellent five-course dinner".[2] Boulestin would first demonstrate how to make an omelette,[3] followed by a Filet de Sole Murat,[4] Escalope de Veau Choisy, preparation of salads,[5] and finally Crepes Flambees.[6] According to Eater, the show's target audience was upper-class individuals who could afford then-very expensive television sets, but of whom lacked at-home cooking staff for that particular evening.[7]
Availability[edit | edit source]
Like other early BBC television broadcasts, Cook's Night Out was broadcast live and was not recorded. Therefore, all five episodes are now permanently lost. A photo of Boulestin making the omelette is all that remains of the show.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Listing of episode 1 of Cook's Night Out in Radio Times.
Listing of episode 2 of Cook's Night Out in Radio Times.
Listing of episode 4 of Cook's Night Out in Radio Times.
Listing of episode 5 of Cook's Night Out in Radio Times.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Early BBC Television[edit | edit source]
- Alexandra Palace's wartime television demonstrations (lost footage of private television transmissions; 1943, 1945)
- An Inspector Calls (lost television adaptation of play; 1948)
- Ann and Harold (lost early BBC drama television series; 1938)
- BBC Election Night (lost coverage of British general elections; 1950-1951)
- The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)
- Craftsmen at Work (lost early BBC documentary show; 1938, 1946)
- Dish of the Month (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
- First Aid (lost early BBC medical show; 1937)
- Foundations of Cookery (lost early BBC cooking show; 1939)
- Marcel Boulestin television shorts (lost early BBC programs; 1937-1939)
- Masks through the Ages (lost early BBC history talk show; 1937)
- Opening of the BBC Television Service (partially found coverage of inaugural day of high-definition television service; 1936)
- The Orchestra and its Instruments (lost early BBC music talk show; 1937)
- RCA recording of BBC Television Service (found footage of pre-Second World War BBC television broadcast; 1938)
- Sea Stories (lost early BBC talk show; 1936-1937)
- Spelling Bee (lost early BBC game show; 1938)
- Telecrime (lost early BBC crime drama; 1938-1939; 1946)
- The Wasp's Nest (lost early BBC television adaptation of Agatha Christie short story; 1937)
- Weaponless Self-Defence (lost early ju-jitsu television program; 1936-1937)
- The World of Women (lost early BBC talk show; 1937)
Early BBC Sports Television[edit | edit source]
- 1931 Epsom Derby (lost televised footage of horse racing event; 1931)
- 1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)
- 1937 International Imperial Trophy Race (lost footage of motor race; 1937)
- 1937 Wimbledon Championships (partially found footage of tennis tournament; 1937)
- 1938 Ashes Series (partially found footage of international test cricket match; 1938)
- 1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)
- 1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)
- 1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)
- 1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One race; 1953)
- 1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)
- Archery (lost early televised toxophily; 1937-1938)
- Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)
- Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)
- Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)
- The Boat Race 1938 (partially found footage of rowing race; 1938)
- Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)
- Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)
- Darts and Shove Ha'penny (lost early BBC televised darts matches; 1936-1939)
- England 0-1 Scotland (partially found international football match; 1938)
- England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
- England 16-21 Scotland (partially found footage of rugby match; 1938)
- England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
- England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)
- Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)
- Horace Lindrum vs Willie Smith (lost footage of televised snooker; 1937)
- Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)
- Woods and Jack (lost early televised lawn bowls; 1937; 1946)
External Link[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ BBC Archive tweet, crediting Cook's Night Out as the first TV cookery series. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ BBC Genome archive of Radio Times issues, listing Cook's Night Out and the "excellent five-course dinner" quote. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ Radio Times issue summarising episode 1. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ Radio Times issue summarising episode 2. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ Radio Times issue summarising episode 4. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ Radio Times issue summarising episode 5. Retrieved 18 Apr '21
- ↑ Eater article, summarising the show's premise and intended audience. Retrieved 18 Apr '21