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Clement Freud

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Author

The Resume

    (April 24, 1924-April 15, 2009)
    Born in Berlin, Germany
    Chef/author/broadcaster/politician
    Chef at the Dorchester Hotel
    Opened his own restaurant in Sloane Square, London
    Sports journalist and food critic
    Panelist on the Radio 4 show 'Just a Minute' (1967-2009)
    Wrote the children's books 'Grimble' (1968) and 'Grimble at Christmas' (1973)
    Also wrote 'Freud on Food' (1978), 'The Book of Hangovers' (1981), 'The Gourmet's Tour of Great Britain and Ireland' (1989), 'Freud Ego' (2001) and 'Freud on Course' (2009)
    Member of Parliament for the Isle of Ely (1973-83) and North East Cambridgeshire (1983-87)
    Knighted (1987)
    Grandson of Sigmund Freud
    Brother of painter Lucien Freud

Why he might be annoying:

    He came to national attention by appearing in commercials for dog food with a bloodhound that shared his hangdog expression.
    After being elected to Parliament, he noted 'It suddenly occurred to me that after nine years of fame I now had something solid about which to be famous.'
    He and Lucien had a lifelong feud, going decades without speaking to each other, over which one was the rightful winner of a childhood race.
    He said, 'I'm not great at forgiving. If I decide I don't like someone, that's it.'
    He was a director of the Playboy Club in London until he was fired for illegally betting in his own casino (1981).
    He ticked off Australians when, asked if he had preferred Sydney or Melbourne, he replied, 'It's like comparing leprosy with syphilis.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    His family fled Germany for England when Hitler came to power.
    During WWII, he served as an aide to Field Marshall Montgomery and a liason to the Nuremburg War Crime Trials.
    He was married to actress Jill Raymond for 59 years until his death. ('I call her my first wife to keep her on her toes.')
    As proprietor of the Royal Court Theatre Club he gave Dudley Moore his first break.
    He was known for his dry wit.
    During a discussion of inflation, he noted, 'As the farmer said to me the other day, 'Apples are going up,' to which I replied, 'This would come as a severe blow to Sir Isaac Newton.''
    When he travelled to China with a group of other Members of Parliament, the best hotel suite was given to the grandson of Winston Churchill, prompting Freud to note that it was the first time he had been 'out-grandfathered.'
    Fellow 'Just a Minute' panelist Stephen Fry said, 'Despite the grouchiness, he was a benevolent, wonderful and charming man.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 35.29% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 93 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 35 Votes: 65.71% Annoying