From peace to pigs in blankets: the British Christmas from 1945 onwards

The National Archives welcomes back historian Dr Annie Gray for the latest in her popular series of Christmas food talks.

Good tidings we bring! The National Archives welcomes back Dr Annie Gray for the latest in her popular series of Christmas food talks.

Drawing on research for her latest book Call The Midwife: The Official Cookbook, Annie will take us on a technicolour tour from the rigours of rationing through to the dubious delights of a microwave Christmas in the 1980s.

We'll find out about the surprising newness of some of our most beloved foods (the clue is in the title of the talk) while watching old traditions dwindle and die. Expect silver balls and plastic holly, along with some terrible flavours of salted snacks…

Annie will be signing books for the National Archives bookshop, available to buy online.

Annie Gray is a historian, cook, broadcaster and writer specialising in the history of food and dining in Britain from around 1600 to the present day. She does her research in libraries and archives but is a firm believer in cooking as research as well. She is the resident food historian on BBC Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet and has presented TV history documentaries including Victorian Bakers and The Sweetmakers. She is also the author of The Greedy Queen: Eating with Victoria and Victory in the Kitchen: The Life of Churchill’s Cook among others, and is a Research Associate at the University of York. She lives in East Anglia.

What’s Online is a series of talks, in conversation events and webinars delivered by our experts and special guests. Events last approximately one hour, including an audience Q&A.

This event will be presented on Zoom. For the best experience we recommend using either a laptop or desktop computer. You will receive a reminder email, including a link to join in advance of the event. For more information on attending a Zoom event, please visit: https://bit.ly/3fojVtn

Talks are available to watch on catch-up for a limited period of 48 hours only. You will receive a separate link to view the recording once the event is over.