The Fenley Cooks

The Kitchen Front - Cooking Against the War

Two years after the start of World War II, Britain is suffering from its losses: The Nazis have won battles, blitzkrieg has destroyed cities, and submarines have disrupted food supplies. To assist housewives with food rationing, the BBC radio show The Kitchen Front is hosting a cooking competition - and the grand prize is a job as the first female co-host of the show. For four very different women, winning the competition would be a crucial opportunity for a better life. For a young widow, it is a chance to pay off her late husband's debts and provide a roof over her children's heads. For a kitchen maid, it is a chance for freedom; for a lady of the manor, it is an escape from the increasingly hostile behavior of her wealthy husband. And for a trained cook, it is an opportunity to finally challenge her male colleagues.