I have a couple of Nigel Slater's books and like his simple un-fussy style of cooking so looked forward to learning a little of his kitchen training. I didn't get any of that, how can you have a film about a famous chef without some insight of his training? Nigel's mother can't cook, there is no such thing as can't! Anyone can learn, so is it laziness, stupidity or what? I found the woman tiresome, sure she became increasingly ill but at her age she surely could do more than sling a few tins in boiling water. Her son soon showed her how. Dad was on medication for his gut so no wonder he was bad tempered, toast isn't healthy. Along comes H.B. Carter, she's amazing, cleans, cooks like a chef, sexy and for some inexplicable reason sets her cap for Nigel's tubby, grumpy and very ordinary dad. Nigel hates the poor woman, leaving aside memories of his mother and his homosexuality the way he behaved toward her was cruel and I thought rather odd. After all he drools over and longs for food, she supplies dishes beyond measure yet he doesn't give her a chance? The first half hour or so were slow, lingering for too long on shots so by the time it got going when Mrs Potter comes along it didn't leave enough running time for more of when Nigel leaves home. Or was that a deliberate choice in case of a sequel? If it had been me when left with the hot Mrs Potter in the shape of the delectable Helena B. Carter I would have let her teach me more about cooking and maybe a lot more about life!
