2 Fat Ladies 88
Why You Should Save That Bacon Fat Oct 23, 2020 By: Cecilia Morales New Food Network Documentary to Reveal the Honest Challenges of Restaurateurs During the Pandemic Dec 16, 2020. 'Two fat ladies' banned from bingo hall THE phrase 'two fat ladies' - or 88 in bingo lingo - has been banned by a council that fears it could upset overweight players. By Neil Syson, The Sun December 28, 2009 6:57pm. Jan 23, 2020 Bingo is joining the 21st century as 'woke millennials' ditch traditional calls such as 'two fat ladies - 88' for fear of upsetting anyone. They are said to be tired of the old calls and prefer the more modern 'Wills and Kate - 88'. Dozens of changes could see Tinder, avocado and Brexit become part of the game's famous calling. It sported the registration N88 TFL (the British bingo call for number 88 is 'Two Fat Ladies') and had a Watsonian Jubilee GP-700 'doublewide' sidecar where Dickson Wright rode. They travelled to various destinations, such as an army garrison and an all-girls' school, where they prepared large meals, often with unusual ingredients.
The iconic show Two Fat Ladies introduced British cooking to international audiences when it first aired in the late 1990s. The unlikely hit featured two heavyset, aging ladies who delighted viewers with their disdain for healthy food and their politically incorrect banter.
Have you ever wondered why your bingo callershouts “two fat ladies“? Or “doctor’s orders“? Or “two little ducks“? Who was “Tom Mix” and “Burlington Bertie”. Where did this bingo lingo originate? (Please note that here we discuss bingo call origins – not the ‘bingo lingo’ referring to abbreviations etc used in bingo chat rooms).
The truth is that while most of these bingo terms are known, some others are a little unclear. Take a look at “Kelly’s eye” for instance. Different sources may even given a different meaning to the same call.
Certainly the military is responsible for many of the calls – all the army divisions for example. Plus “Doctor’s orders“, “6 & 2 to Waterloo” etc. This is no surprise considering that bingo began as a gambling game popular in the early Army and Navy. Which will seem strange to those people today who still believe that its’ a game for little old ladies!
The list below gives you as much information as we currently have regarding bingo calling origins. Please let us know if you have further / differing info!
Two Fat Ladies – and other bingo lingo.
1 Kelly’s eye – All sources suggest it is military slang. It may originate from the outlaw Ned Kelly. Or the music hall song “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” But neither have anything to do with only one eye.
6 Tom Mix – a cowboy film star from the silent movie era.
8Harry Tate – a music hall comedian and early film star.
9 doctor’s orders / doctor’s joy – number 9 was a laxative pill issued in the army and navy. Supposedly because 9pm was the latest time in the day when a doctor could be seen.
10 Theresa’s den – changes depending upon the Prime Minister at the time. So has variously been Maggie’s den, Tony’s den etc.
11 legs – looking like a pair of legs.
14 the lawnmower – early lawnmowers had a 14 inch blade.
17 dancing queen – “You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen” – ABBA.
17 old Ireland – could be because St Patrick’s Day is on March 17th. But more likely to be that when Ireland was all one country it was made up of 17 counties.
21 royal salute – referring to a 21 gun salute.
22 two little ducks – the number 2 looks like a duck.
22 dinkie-doo – a dated term for a concert party.
23 The Lord is My Shepherd – the first line of psalm 23.
24 Pompey whore – Sailors nickname for Portsmouth. And who would they go and see as soon as they docked?
26 half a crown / bed and breakfast – both refer to the 2/6 of old money – supposedly the price of one night’s B&B at one time.
28 in a state – ‘two and eight’ is cockney rhyming slang for ‘in a state’.
28 The Old Braggs – the 28th Foot The North Gloucestershire Army Regiment.
30 Dirty Gertie – a 1946 film.
30 Burlington Bertie – a popular music hall song from the early 1900s.
33 Sherwood Forrest – say ‘all the threes’ in an Irish accent…..
39 steps – from the John Buchan novel & Alfred Hitchcock film “The Thirty Nine Steps”.
39 Jack Benny – an American comedian who was big in the 1950s and 60s. His ‘running gag’ was that he was 39 years old.
42 the street in Manhattan – ’42nd Street’ was a 1933 film.
44 droopy drawers – looks like a pair of drawers half way down.
44 Aldershot Ladies – a military term – originally ‘Aldershot whores’. But was cleaned up a little …….
45 cowboy’s friend – a Colt 45 revolver.
49 PC – a 1940s / 50s radio show about Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby – P.C. 49.
50 Hawaii five oh – an American 70s police drama.
50 Snow White’s number – “five ohhh five ohhh its off to work we go…..”
51 The Highland Div – the 51st Army Division.
52 The Lowland Div – the 52nd Army Division.
52 Danny La Rue – a 60s / 70s drag artist.
53 here comes Herbie – The number on the bonnet of the Walt Disney car.
53 The Welsh Div – the 53rd Army Division.
54 house with a bamboo door –“Number fifty-four, the house with the bamboo door” – Earl Grant.
56 Shotts bus – the number 56 bus went from Glasgow to Shotts.
56 was she worth it? – 5/6 was supposedly once the price of a marriage licence (the same story goes for 7/6).
57 Heinz varieties – ‘Heinz 57 varieties’ is the famous company slogan.
58 choo choo Thomas – we all recognise Thomas the Tank Engine as being no. 1 engine. But it would seem he has had a few number changes throughout his career – no. 58 being one of them at some point in the late 1950s. (thanks to Eugene Rittgers for his help in discovering this ….)
59 the Brighton Line – refers to the London to Brighton bus service. Was either a 59 bus or cost 5/9.
62 tickety-boo – an army phrase. possibly originating from the Hindi “tickee babu” meaning “everything’s alright sir”.
62 turn of the screw – a Henry James ghost story.
62 to Waterloo – a Naval term. Not referring to the battle but to the cost – 6/2 – of a the fare from Portsmouth to Waterloo station.
64 The Beatle’s number –“Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” – The Beatles.
67 the argumentative number – from the phrase “at sixes and sevens” meaning to be in a state of confusion.
68 saving grace – unknown. Another example of bingo lingo with obscure origins.
72 par for the course – the typical par for a championship golf course.
75 Big Daddy – in American bingo the numbers go from 1 – 75. So this is the highest on the card. But taken on in Britain because of the name of the 70s wrestler.
76 was she worth it? – 7/6 was supposedly once the price of a marriage licence (the same story goes for 5/6).
76 trombones – “Seventy-six trombones led the big parade” – from ‘The Music Man’.
77 Sunset Strip – an American TV show from the 50s/60s.
80 Gandhi’s breakfast – because when fasting Gandhi ‘ate nothing’ / ‘eight nothing’. Also the number looks like someone sitting cross legged by an empty plate from above.
83 Ethel’s ear – the original fat lady who played bingo – now lost to legend. She supposedly had large ears!
86 between the sticks – a common reference at one time for a goalkeeper standing between the goal posts.
88 two fat ladies – looking like two ‘wobbly’ fat ladies.
88 Connaught Rangers – the 88th Army Regiment of Foot.
bingo lingo – general number ‘look-a-likes’.
2 looks like a duck or swan.
3 looks like a flea (or at least rhymes with it!).
5 looks like a snake.
7 looks like a crutch.
8 looks like a fat lady. And yes …. a pair look like two fat ladies …….
So although the history of bingo is lost in the mists of time, the origin of most of these traditional bingo calls are known (or guessed!).
The iconic show Two Fat Ladies introduced British cooking to international audiences when it first aired in the late 1990s. The unlikely hit featured two heavyset, aging ladies who delighted viewers with their disdain for healthy food and their politically incorrect banter. The BBC sensation caught on across the pond where it aired on The Food Network, securing the beloved show's legacy all over the world. While fans will be familiar with the on-screen antics of Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson, their off-screen personalities were even more fascinating.
Dickson Wright's childhood was troubled
Coming from a privileged, but troubled, childhood had a huge impact on Dickson Wright. Her father, a surgeon, was an alcoholic whose temper would sometimes lead to violence. 'I don't love him, no,' she told The Guardian. 'There was nothing there to love — there was no emotional link. I didn't have conversations with him, we merely exchanged knowledge.'
'I had to get past the violence and the drunkenness and abuse before I could see that I had various things to be thankful for,' she said.
Dickson Wright had a hot temper
Dickson Wright was known for being fierce both on screen and off. Patricia Llewellyn, producer of Two Fat Ladies, spoke about Dickson Wright's temper after her death. 'We called her 'Krakatoa' because if you didn't notice the rumbling you could find yourself in trouble,' she said. 'She was a force of nature.' Her attitude paired well with Paterson, who was also known for being a strong presence.
Paterson was once expelled from boarding school
Like her co-star, Paterson came from a privileged background. Something of a troublemaker in her childhood, she was once expelled from school for being 'disruptive.' According to Paterson, the nuns at her Catholic boarding school 'had to expel me in the end. They claimed it was the only way to get the rest of the school to settle down.'
Her feisty attitude would continue into adulthood. After her death, BBC broadcast chief executive Will Wyatt said, 'Jennifer was a life force on the side of all things that were politically incorrect.'
Dickson Wright was a legal prodigy before turning to cooking
Dickson Wright didn't enter the cooking scene until later in life. Her first career was in law, and at the age of 21 she became the youngest woman ever to be called to the Bar. It was her father's refusal to pay for his daughter's education that spurred Dickson Wright. 'I hated my father so much: he wouldn't pay for me to go to university and then do bar exams; so I did six years' work in three,' she told Church Times. 'Yes, I was clever and determined. He would only pay for me to study medicine. Think how many people I would have killed.'
Dickson Wright was an alcoholic
Like her father, Dickson Wright battled alcoholism. Her heavy drinking forced her to abandon her law career and also led her to squander the millions she inherited from her parents. While she eventually sought treatment and remained sober in her later years, the damage caused by her drinking was irreparable. A gin and tonic aficionado, the quinine in the tonic water permanently damaged Dickson Wright's adrenal gland which caused her to struggle with her weight.
They hated vegetarians
Dickson Wright and Paterson were vehemently opposed to a vegetarian lifestyle. 'Vegetarians are fascists,' said Dickson Wright. 'I'd fight to the death for their right to be vegetarian, but they won't return the compliment. I hate fascism in any guise.'
Paterson claimed that a vegetarian diet leads to malnutrition. 'Why are [vegetarians] always so cross?,' she said. 'It's because they eat the wrong things. They look terrible; they're usually of a yellow colour. You go to a health shop and they all look so depressed. They need cheering up, poor dears.'
Paterson was also horrified at the increasing number of vegetarians as she grew older, comparing them to Nazis. 'There were few around in my young days,' she said, 'and those we did come across we considered to be German spies. After all, Hitler was a veggie.'
They were notoriously opposed to political correctness
Paterson and Dickson Wright were infamous for saying whatever came across their minds. Political correctness had no place on their show. When asked if she objected to being called fat in the show's title, Dickson Wright said 'If you're fat you're fat. I hate this modern-day political correctness, that you don't call things by their proper name.'
Dickson Wright was new to cooking when the show first aired
Before becoming the star of Two Fat Ladies, Dickson Wright had no training in the kitchen. While she did work in the food business, her experience was limited to running cookbook stores and running her catering business. It wasn't until she teamed up with Paterson, a seasoned chef with significantly more experience, that Dickson Wright learned to cook. She said that before then, she had never had so much as a single cooking lesson.
Paterson was self-taught
While Paterson was the more experienced of the pair, she was self-taught. Even more interesting is the fact that neither of her parents knew how to cook — according to Paterson, 'her father couldn't boil a kettle.' But Paterson didn't let this stop her. She believed that cooking was a talent and to learn how to use it. 'All you need is a deep interest in your subject,' she said.
Paterson certainly had a deep interest. 'I was always hovering about the kitchen, bothering cook and making horrible little pies,' she said. She nurtured her talent for cooking and later become a private cook and a food columnist
The pair got along from the beginning
The now iconic duo seemed like old friends when the first episode aired, but in reality they barely knew each other. They were brought together by producer Pat Llewellyn who met Jennifer Paterson at a lunch party and conceived the idea for Two Fat Ladies after seeing her drive off on a motorbike. Llewellyn brought Paterson and Dickson Wright together and the rest is history.
'I think they thought we'd fight,' Dickson Wright later said. 'Aren't two opinionated women the Chinese symbol for war? But we got on like a house on fire, and I think the sheer anarchy of that was why the series was so successful.'
But they may not have liked each other
Despite Dickson Wright's claims that she and Paterson were fast friends, rumors swirled that the pair actually hated each other. According to Ian Scott, a PR executive who knew both women, they were 'not friends.' He claimed that during filming, the women would have to be booked into different hotels because they hated each other so much. 'Jennifer in particular couldn't stand Clarissa and was often quite horrible about her,' he said. 'She'd call her 'that dreadful woman.'
Scott said that most of the animosity was from Paterson's end and that she had a cruel side. 'They clashed, simple as that,' he said. 'They were both such strong characters: loud, clever. I think it was clear that Clarissa was intellectually Jennifer's superior.'
They used to get death threats
Dickson Wright and Paterson may have starred on a beloved show, but many people were not thrilled with their bluntness. After Paterson's death, Dickson Wright was left to face the vitriol of their critics alone. Dickson Wright remembered one person yelling 'One dead Fat Lady, one to go.'
'It was the most awful thing because it wasn't long after Jennifer died,' she said. 'I usually pay no attention to the bloody antis because they are so awful, but I thought that was plain vicious. Clearly they are sick people.'
Clarissa Dickson Wright
Dickson Wright made it clear that, in spite of a growing number of death threats, she could protect herself. 'I once had two people attempt to mug me and they both ended up in intensive care,' she said. 'I can handle myself. The reason one doesn't retaliate is that one doesn't want to stoop to their level.'
Two Fat Ladies 88 Dumbarton Road
They were parodied in an SNL sketch
2 Fat Ladies Glasgow
The show became so well known that it was even memorialized in a Saturday Night Live sketch in 1999. Brendan Fraser played Paterson and Darrell Hammond portrayed Dickson Wright. The sketch parodied the ladies' distaste for healthy foods, showing them 'improving' healthy meals by adding pork rinds, butter, and mayonnaise to salad.