Reveals the food ‘fit for a king’ in new cookery show
public, on the other hand, was an entirely pleasant surprise.
“After 45 years in TV, as it is now, I was suddenly famous overnight.
“People stopping you in the street, in mostly charming ways, was quite an experience.
“You find yourself poking your way through the nation’s consciousness in a way that doing the news for goodness knows how long completely failed to do.”
‘Doing the news’ saw Michael front the BBC’s flagship nightly bulletins after foreign correspondent days that saw him booted out by a South African government that hated his reporting.
And it was telling the truth, however unpalatable it was, that was an Ethiopian lifesaver. Showing the “Biblical famine” in the “hell on earth” in October 1984 sparked a worldwide humanitarian relief effort.
He knows, although he’d rather it wasn’t the case, that it’ll be what headlines his obituary.
“I don’t know about it being my proudest moment,” he says quietly. “I feel rather ambivalent about being known or celebrated for something that’s dependant on the misery of other people.
“But secretly there’s that journalistic feeling about getting a scoop.”
Royal Recipes, thankfully, requires no cookery expertise whatsoever on Michael’s part. It sees him based at former Royal Palace, Audley End in Essex, where he’s joined by top chefs, including Paul Ainsworth and Anna Haugh.
He also explores the annals of servant Mildred Nicholls, who worked in the Royal Kitchens over a century ago and recorded the recipes for dishes prepared for the king and queen.
“Most people these days seem to be interested in either cooking or the Royal Family,” says Michael.
“The makers obviously decided putting the two together was a winner as far as television was concerned.
“Royalty’s always fascinating from the outside looking in. And what the Royal Family have eaten has to a degree set the pattern for the rest of us.
“The way things are served, afternoon tea, the popularisation of curry have all been influenced.
“And everyone seems to be fascinated by cooking – including those who have never cooked anything in their lives.”
Royal Recipes starts Monday 23rd Jan, 3.45pm on BBC1, and continues weekdays.